Physiotherapy post Vertebral Fragility Fracture

Vertebral Fragility Fractures (VFF) are the most common fractures that occur due to osteoporosis, and are associated with pain and disability. Given that vertebral fractures often occur due to falls or certain types of movements, physiotherapy may be an important part of the  clinical management of VFF patients. There are several interventions that physiotherapists might use to manage spine fractures, such as bracing, taping, education, and exercise. This scoping review was conducted to generate an overview of the literature regarding physiotherapy interventions post VFF. 

Thirteen studies were included in this review, with number of  participants ranging from 20 to 613 (mean age 71.9), all with a history of VFF.
• Exercise was the most frequently reported intervention with a mix of strength (trunk or general), balance and postural training and with exercise often acting as an element of a multi modal intervention, alongside manual therapy or education.
• Education was a commonly delivered intervention but without reported measurement of participant knowledge, beliefs, or behaviours.
• The description of the exercise programmes lacked specifics regarding training volume and programme parameters.

According to the authors: Large scale, high quality research with representative samples, clearly documented physiotherapy interventions and agreed core outcomes is required to inform clinical guidelines for the management of VFF in both the acute and late rehabilitation phases. 

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