ROLE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY IN FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION OF POSTMENOPAUL WOMEN WITH DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURE

Abstract

Introduction: Distal radius fracture is one of the most common fractures of the upper limb, especially in postmenopausal women, due to decreased estrogen levels, which lead to osteoporosis and reduced bone density. This condition causes several complications, such as pain, decreased range of motion, and loss of strength, negatively affecting daily living activities and autonomy. Physical therapy plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of these patients, using techniques aimed at reducing complications and restoring strength, mobility, and joint stability. Objective: To identify the main physiotherapeutic interventions used in the functional rehabilitation of postmenopausal women with distal radius fractures. Methodology: This is a literature review conducted between March and April 2026 in the SciELO, BVS and Google Scholar databases, using the descriptors “distal radius fracture,” “postmenopause,” “physical therapy,” and “functional rehabilitation,” combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Full articles published between 2020 and 2025 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, addressing physiotherapeutic techniques for functional rehabilitation of distal radius fractures in postmenopausal women, were included. Results: The analyzed studies showed that postmenopausal women with distal radius fractures present a significant reduction in upper limb functionality, characterized by the presence of pain, decreased range of motion, reduced muscle strength, and difficulty in performing activities of daily living, especially those involving the wrist. Conclusion: The literature review confirms that physiotherapy plays an essential role in the functional rehabilitation of postmenopausal women with distal radius fractures. Physiotherapeutic interventions have proven to be effective in reducing pain, improving mobility, increasing muscle strength, and restoring the functional capacity of the affected limb.