WISE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Wrist Injury Strengthening Exercise: Progressive resistance and flexibility exercises versus usual care advice for improving pain and function after distal radius fracture in adults aged 50 years or over: the WISE randomised superiority trial
IRAS ID
329536
Contact name
David Keene
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Wrist fractures are an extremely common injury, representing about 1 in 5 of all broken bones seen in UK hospitals. 1 in 10 women up to 90 years old will have a wrist fracture, with most occurring after a simple fall from standing height. Initial treatment for this fracture is either with an operation (for more severe breaks) or with a splint or cast.
After a wrist fracture, patients may experience long-term muscle weakness of the hand and arm, having an impact on their quality of life and wellbeing. There may also be long-lasting impacts on daily activities such as personal hygiene, domestic chores, and preparing meals.
Currently the care program offered to patients after the initial treatment varies between hospitals, however the majority of patients will be given some basic exercise instruction. This study will investigate whether adding in a programme of stretching and strengthening exercises for the hand and arm will help in the patient’s recovery. These specific exercises are thought to improve wrist function and help with future activities of daily living.
Participants will be allocated at random to one of two different study groups:
1. Usual care: verbal advice and an advice leaflet
2. Therapist-Supervised exercise: usual care plus one session with a physio or occupational therapist to introduce the stretching and strengthening exercise programme. A further two sessions will provide guidance on progression of the exercise programme. Participants will be provided with a high-quality written and illustrated guide, and website to support them with carrying out the exercises independently.Over a 6-month period, participants will be asked about their health, wrist function and daily activities, as well as any complications and costs. A team of patient representatives and experts in rehabilitation, surgery, study management, and statistics will deliver the project.
The aim is to provide evidence for recommendations about future routine NHS care for patients with this injury. We will develop a free-to-access online resource to support use of the new treatment in the NHS, if the study shows it is beneficial. The Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) research team members, who have been involved in the project from the beginning, will guide development of lay results summaries and animations.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0201
Date of REC Opinion
8 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion