Question:
A patient is referred to hand therapy following ORIF of a distal radius fracture. The patient presents with wrist stiffness and scar hypersensitivity. Which of the following is the best modality to treat both of these conditions?
Rationale for correct answer:
Fluidotherapy is a form of convection heat in which heated air circulates with particles around a body part. The temperature and amount of particle agitation can be adjusted. The heat of the Fluidotherapy will help with the joint stiffness and the particles circulating on and around the hand will assist with desensitization. Moist hot packs, paraffin and ultrasound are primarily heat modalities and will help with joint stiffness but less so with hypersensitivity.
