Patients commonly experience a significant amount of muscular atrophy following open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery of distal radius fractures, associated with an increased risk of re-injury, and an increase in time of recovery. A combination of low intensity resistance exercise and blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy has been shown to elicit responses similar to high intensity resistance exercise with reduced risk. We hypothesize that chronic low intensity resistance exercise combined with BFR will improve muscular strength, reduce skeletal muscle atrophy, and will enhance recovery. Therefore, the specific aims of this study are as follows: 1. Determine if BFR added to standard post-operative rehab will prevent skeletal muscle atrophy and promote skeletal muscle growth during 12-weeks of rehab training compared to traditional rehab alone. The working hypothesis, founded on previous literature, is that combined rehab and BFR will enhance skeletal muscle growth and prevent atrophy to a greater extent than rehab alone. 2. Determine if BFR added to standard post-operative rehab will improve muscular strength following surgery compared to traditional rehab alone. Because strength can be attributed to skeletal muscle mass, the working hypothesis, founded on previous literature, is that combined rehab and BFR will enhance skeletal muscle strength and fatigue resistance to a greater extent than rehab alone. 3. Determine if BFR added to standard post-operative rehab will improve functional outcomes following surgery compared to traditional rehab alone. The working hypothesis, founded on previous literature is that BFR will improve functional outcomes over rehab alone.
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Body composition / bone density
Timeframe: DEXA scans will be recorded at the first rehabilitation visit (one week post-op), and then at two weeks, six weeks and 12 weeks following the initiation of rehabilitation.
Forearm girth
Timeframe: Measurements will be recorded on the day of operative procedure, then at two, six and 12 weeks post-op.
Grip strength
Timeframe: Measurements will be recorded on the day of operative procedure, then at two, six and 12 weeks post-op.
Pinch grip strength
Timeframe: Measurements will be recorded on the day of operative procedure, then at two, six and 12 weeks post-op.