Enhancing Recovery and Alleviating Pain in Radial Capitellum Fractures: The Role of Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise in Conservative Treatment
Keywords:
aerobic activity; radial capitellum fracture; pain management; physical rehabilitation; non-pharmacological interventionsAbstract
Introduction: Radial head fractures, common in orthopedics, present unique challenges in conservative management, particularly in terms of pain modulation. The use of low-impact aerobic activities in this treatment phase is still underexplored and could offer significant benefits.
Objective: To describe the case of a 41-year-old male podiatrist presented with a MASON 2 radial capitellum fracture following a fall.
Case report: A 41-year-old male podiatrist presented with a MASON 2 radial capitellum fracture following a fall, experiencing notable pain (NPRS 6/7) and functional impairment (DASH 45/100, PRTEE 43/100). The inclusion of aerobic activities during the immobilization period led to a significant decrease in pain, with the NPRS score reaching 2 after 4 weeks.
Conclusions: This case underscores the potential of low-impact aerobic activities in managing pain and facilitating functional recovery in radial capitellum fractures, warranting further exploration of their role in clinical practice.
Keywords: aerobic activity; radial capitellum fracture; pain management; physical rehabilitation; non-pharmacological interventions.
Downloads
References
1. Guitton TG, Zurakowski D, van Dijk NC, Ring D. Incidence and risk factors for the development of radiographic arthrosis after traumatic elbow injuries. J Hand Surg Am. 2010;35:1976-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2010.08.010
2. van Riet RP, van den Bekerom M, Van Tongel A, Spross C, Barco R, Watts AC. Radial head fractures. Shoulder Elbow. 2020;12:212-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1758573219876921
3. Kandemir U, Fu FH, McMahon PJ. Elbow injuries. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2002;14:160-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00002281-200203000-00013
4. Tedeschi R. Case report: Integrating aerobic activity in post-surgical management of plurifragmentary distal clavicle fractures - A holistic approach to pain modulation and recovery. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2023;113:109024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.109024
5. Boccolari P, Pantaleoni F, Donati D, Tedeschi R. Non-surgical treatment of oblique diaphyseal fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpals in a professional athlete: A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2024;115:109256. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109256
6. Tedeschi R. Case study: Gait assessment of a patient with hallux rigidus before and after plantar modification. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2024;114:109197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.109197
7. Benedetti MG, Furlini G, Zati A, Letizia Mauro G. The Effectiveness of Physical Exercise on Bone Density in Osteoporotic Patients. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:4840531. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4840531
8. Zouhal H, Berro AJ, Kazwini S, Saeidi A, Jayavel A, Clark CCT, et al. Effects of Exercise Training on Bone Health Parameters in Individuals with Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Physiol. 2022;12:807110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.807110
9. Marini S, Barone G, Masini A, Dallolio L, Bragozoni L, Longobucco Y, et al. The Effect of Physical Activity on Bone Biomarkers in People With Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020;11:585689. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2020.585689
10. Hofstad JK, Klaksvik J, Klepstad P, Gjeilo KH, Søballe K, Wik TS. Patient-reported outcomes the first thirty days after fast-track primary total hip arthroplasty. A prospective cohort study using a web-based registration tool for postoperative follow-up. Int J Orthop Trauma Nurs. 2023;52:101079. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijotn.2023.101079
11. Angst F, Schwyzer HK, Aeschlimann A, Simmen BR, Goldhahn J. Measures of adult shoulder function: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH) and its short version (QuickDASH), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Society standardized shoulder assessment form, Constant (Murley) Score (CS), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ), and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(11):S174-88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.20630
12. Marks M, Rickenbacher D, Audigé L, Glanzmann MC. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE). Z Orthop Unfall. 2021;159:391-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1107-3313
13. O’Driscoll SWM, Lawton RL, Smith AM. The “moving valgus stress test” for medial collateral ligament tears of the elbow. Am J Sports Med. 2005;33:231-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546504267804
14. Valdes K, LaStayo P. The value of provocative tests for the wrist and elbow: a literature review. J Hand Ther. 2013;26:32-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2012.08.005
15. Sohrabi C, Mathew G, Maria N, Kerwan A, Franchi T, Agha RA. The SCARE 2023 guideline: updating consensus Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) guidelines. Int J Surg. 2023;109:1136-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/JS9.0000000000000373
16. Saeed W, Waseem M. Elbow Fractures Overview. StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
17. Tedeschi R, Berti L, Platano D. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) in managing pain and recovery: A clinical case of radial capitellum fracture. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2023;114:109120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.109120
18. Santandrea S, Benassi M, Tedeschi R. Comparison of short-stretch bandage and long-stretch bandage for post-traumatic hand edema. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2023;111:108854. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108854
19. Zhou YS, Meng FC, Cui Y, Xiong YL, Li XY, Meng FB, et al. Regular Aerobic Exercise Attenuates Pain and Anxiety in Mice by Restoring Serotonin-Modulated Synaptic Plasticity in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2022;54:566-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002841
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Roberto Tedeschi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
