An interventional study of Standard rehabilitation + one-inch punch training and Standard rehabilitation in Distal Radius Fracture, sponsored by The University of Hong Kong. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Hong Kong. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by The University of Hong Kong · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether incorporating high-impact exercise (one-inch punch) into standard rehabilitation improves upper extremity function in adults following volar plating for distal radius fractures. The study will include 102 adult participants who have undergone surgical fixation for unilateral distal radius fractures and will follow them for 12 months post-operatively. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Researchers will compare two groups: one receiving standard rehabilitation plus the one-inch punch exercise, and the other receiving standard rehabilitation only. Participants will perform their assigned exercises over 6 weeks, with both groups undergoing similar physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions. The experimental group will incorporate punching exercises targeting a cushioned pad starting from post-operative week 3, while the control group will follow the standard rehabilitation protocol without the high-impact exercise.
This is a single-center, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled study designed to determine whether the incorporation of high-impact exercise (one-inch punch) into standard rehabilitation following volar plating for distal radius fractures results in superior upper extremity function compared to standard rehabilitation alone.
The study will enroll 102 adult subjects who have undergone volar locking plate fixation for unilateral distal radius fractures, and will be follow-up for 12 months post-operatively. Participants will be allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group (standard rehabilitation + one-inch punch training) or the control group (standard rehabilitation only) using computer-generated randomization with concealed allocation.
The Control group and the Intervention group will both receive 6 weeks of standardized home exercise program with instructions provided, including active mobilization exercises, followed by passive mobilization and strengthening.
The Control group will receive standard rehabilitation. Standard rehabilitation consists of four rehabilitation sessions every week, consisting of two physiotherapy sessions and two occupational therapy sessions. Strengthening and passive mobilization exercises will be performed post-operatively under physiotherapist and occupational therapist guidance and assistance.
The Experimental group will receive standard rehabilitation, with one-inch punching exercise incorporated. During each session, participants will perform punching exercise with their operated hand targeting a cushioned pad. Post-operatively, the medical officer will instruct participants on the one-inch punch technique on the orthopaedic ward. Participants will perform the punching exercise with the operated hand directed at a cushioned pad and will commence the one-inch punch training from post-op week 3.
331 studies on the registry are indexed under Wrist Fractures; 71 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 102 is above the median of 64 across 269 interventional studies indexed under Wrist Fractures.
Browse Wrist Fractures studies →The University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 1,289 studies on the registry; 345 are open to participants now.
Of its 9 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Introduce high-impact exercise (one-inch punch training) into standard rehabilitation after their initial assessment by rehabilitation therapists at 3-4 weeks after their discharge, and gradually increase training intensity until post-operative 9-12 weeks.
Other: Standard rehabilitation + one-inch punch training
Active mobilization is continued for the initial post-operative 6 weeks with allied health therapists, while passive mobilization and strengthening are started at the post-operative 8-10-week period.
Other: Standard rehabilitation
Patients in the experimental group will undergo active and passive exercises as well as one-inch punch training after their initial assessment by rehabilitation therapists at 3-4 weeks after their discharge. One-inch punch training will be encouraged after initial training by rehabilitation therapists and doctors during follow-up clinic at 3-4 weeks after discharge. The intensity of the one-inch punch training will increase gradually under the supervision of the rehabilitation therapists and doctors until the post-operative 9-12-week period
Patients are instructed for active flexion, extension, supination, pronation and finger flexion of the operated wrist along with motion of the shoulder and elbow after operation. Active mobilization is continued for the initial post-operative 6 weeks with allied health therapists. Passive mobilization and strengthening is started at the post-operative 8-10-week period.
Region-specific patient-reported functional outcome score
Physical function and symptoms measured by the Shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH), an 11-item patient-reported measure with a total score ranging from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Health-related Quality of Life Measured by SF-12 Chinese (HK) Version
12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), a patient-reported outcome measure of HRQOL comprised of a mental component (MCS) and physical component (PCS), each with a final score ranging from 0 (worst outcome) to 100 (best outcome).
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Grip strength
Grip strength will be measured using an electronic dynamometer
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Range of motion
The patient's wrist range of motion, including pronation, supination, flexion, extension, and radial/ulnar deviation, will be measured.
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Radiographic outcomes
Patients' X-rays will be assessed for fracture healing, implant migration, and fracture displacement.
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
A standard 11-point patient-reported measure used to measure pain intensity from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain).
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Peak striking force
The peak striking force of the patient's punch will be measured using a force plate.
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Incidence of complications
Incidence of wound breakdown, infection, CRPS, tendon irritation, implant failure including screw breakage, and re-operation
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Qualitative self-reported compliance
Patients' self-reported score on their compliance with the rehabilitation sessions and home exercise based on a Likert Scale of 1 (Did not follow) to 5 (Fully comply)
Time frame: At post-op 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months
Other open studies at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
Open a list, then choose Watch this search to get new studies there in a weekly email.
Plan to share: Yes — Anonymized dataset to be included as supplementary data in the final publication
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form, Clinical study report
Time frame: Within 1 year of study completion
Access criteria: Additional information may be available upon reasonable request of the principal investigator
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Oct 2028, 24 months later.
Of 120 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Wrist Fractures, half reached primary completion within 26 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 50. This study's planned 24 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 121 studies reached it within 26 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 50.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.