The Effectiveness of Cross-training on an Immobilised Forearm

The Effectiveness of Cross-training on an Immobilised Forearm Due to Fracture

The cross-training phenomenon is the increase in muscle strength in the contralateral limb when one limb is exercised. Limited studies have shown that it prevents immobilisation-induced muscle weakness in healthy volunteers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of strengthening the contralateral extremity on muscle strength and range of motion in the immobilised extremity in patients who had undergone immobilisation for forearm fractures.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Forearm Fracture
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: isokinetic strengthening exercise; Procedure: conventional exercise programm

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Istanbul, Turkey
    • Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Traumatic unilateral forearm fracture (treated surgically or conservatively and immobilised in a cast)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous upper limb surgery/joint disease - deformity affecting hand-wrist function
• Any neurological condition affecting the upper extremity (stroke, Parkinson's disease; multiple sclerosis, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, peripheral nerve injury)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: cross training group; Group whose healthy arm (unbroken side) is strengthened	Procedure: isokinetic strengthening exercise; Participants' isokinetic strength measurements will be assessed using the Cybex II Humac Norm isokinetic dynamometer. A strengthening programme will be performed for a total of 12 sessions, 3 days a week for 4 weeks, at 20 degrees of flexion, 20 degrees of extension, 60-90 and 180 degrees/s speed. At the beginning and end of the 12th session, isokinetic and isometric muscle performance tests will be performed on the healthy wrist, and isometric wrist flexor and extensor strength measurements will be performed in neutral position 1 week after removal of the cast on the fractured wrist.
Experimental: control group; group given conventional exercise to the fractured arm	Procedure: conventional exercise programm; The immobilised limb was given finger grip exercises.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Wrist isometric flexion muscle strength	The isometric flexion strength of the fractured wrist will be measured using an isokinetic dynamometer at the first week after immobilisation has ceased.	1 year
Wrist isometric extansion muscle strength	The isometric extansion strength of the fractured wrist will be measured using an isokinetic dynamometer at the first week after immobilisation has ceased.	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dilara Ekici Zincirci

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 26, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): March 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 16, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 16, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 20, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 26, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: muscle strength; immobilisation; fracture; cross-education
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Fractures, Bone
• Other Study ID Numbers: CTO-CE1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No