A 66-year-old woman fell and sprained her left wrist 2 days ago. Today she will begin physical therapy for the sprained wrist. She has pain and moderate swelling of the wrist, and she is unable to perform active ROM exercises because of pain with movement. Which of the following would be an appropriate hydrotherapy treatment for her wrist today?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A small whirlpool with water temperature at 25°C with low agitation would be the most appropriate hydrotherapy treatment for this patient's sprained wrist. The cold temperature will help reduce the swelling and pain, while the low agitation will prevent additional discomfort or pain during the treatment. A high-boy whirlpool with maximum agitation would likely exacerbate the patient's pain and swelling, while a low-boy whirlpool with water temperature at 80°C would be too hot and potentially cause burns on the already sensitive skin. Additionally, pool therapy would not be appropriate at this stage as the patient is unable to perform active ROM exercises due to pain.

A 66-Year-Old Woman Fell and Sprained Her Left Wrist 2