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Review Article
Online Published: 19 Jan 2026
 


Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ahmad Omar Alahmadi, Mohammed Abdulhafedh Ahmed Saleh, Mesfer Naser Aldosari, Abdullah Yousif Alheraiz, Ghofran Hadi Alqahtani, Mohammed Khaled Sherwani, Bandar Mohammed Alharbi, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Alotaibi, ‎mohammed Naser Al-dandan, Sahar Ibrahim Alzidani, Lama Hisham A. Bin Saeed, Saud Nayef Aldanyowi.


Abstract
Rehabilitation is essential in postoperative recovery after surgery on the upper extremities. Still, findings on the effectiveness of specific exercise and physical rehabilitation interventions are inconsistent across studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of postoperative physical activities and rehabilitation interventions on pain management, functional outcomes, and quality of life following upper extremity operations. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through June 2023. Postoperative exercise, physical rehabilitation interventions, or studies that were clinical and evaluated the interventions were included. Nine randomized controlled trials and 18 other clinical cases were assessed using random-effects models, and the mean differences were pooled. These findings showed that physical exercise and rehabilitation were effective in improving postoperative outcomes. The reduction of functional disability (as a measure using Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score) was 28.2 (95% CI: -41.1 to -15.3; p = 0.001). The pain intensity was reduced by 1.65 points (95% CI: -1.99 - 1.32; p = 0.001), and quality-of-life scores were enhanced by 0.84 points (95% CI: 0.35 - 1.33). Intermediate and high heterogeneity was found in the outcomes (I2 = 4390%), indicating differences in rehabilitation protocols and design. The findings concluded that postoperative exercise and physical rehabilitation are effective in reducing pain and disability, promoting functional recovery, and improving quality of life following upper extremity surgery.

Key words: Upper extremity surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, exercise, postoperative recovery, meta-analysis.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Alahmadi AO, Saleh MAA, Aldosari MN, Alheraiz AY, Alqahtani GH, Sherwani MK, Alharbi BM, Alotaibi AA, Al-dandan âN, Alzidani SI, Saeed LHAB, Aldanyowi SN. Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 441-451. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029

Web Style

Alahmadi AO, Saleh MAA, Aldosari MN, Alheraiz AY, Alqahtani GH, Sherwani MK, Alharbi BM, Alotaibi AA, Al-dandan âN, Alzidani SI, Saeed LHAB, Aldanyowi SN. Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=303039 [Access: January 25, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alahmadi AO, Saleh MAA, Aldosari MN, Alheraiz AY, Alqahtani GH, Sherwani MK, Alharbi BM, Alotaibi AA, Al-dandan âN, Alzidani SI, Saeed LHAB, Aldanyowi SN. Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 441-451. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alahmadi AO, Saleh MAA, Aldosari MN, Alheraiz AY, Alqahtani GH, Sherwani MK, Alharbi BM, Alotaibi AA, Al-dandan âN, Alzidani SI, Saeed LHAB, Aldanyowi SN. Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC. (2026), [cited January 25, 2026]; 10(1): 441-451. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029


Harvard Style

Alahmadi, A. O., Saleh, . M. A. A., Aldosari, . M. N., Alheraiz, . A. Y., Alqahtani, . G. H., Sherwani, . M. K., Alharbi, . B. M., Alotaibi, . A. A., Al-dandan, . â. N., Alzidani, . S. I., Saeed, . L. H. A. B. & Aldanyowi, . S. N. (2026) Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. IJMDC, 10 (1), 441-451. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029


Turabian Style

Alahmadi, Ahmad Omar, Mohammed Abdulhafedh Ahmed Saleh, Mesfer Naser Aldosari, Abdullah Yousif Alheraiz, Ghofran Hadi Alqahtani, Mohammed Khaled Sherwani, Bandar Mohammed Alharbi, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Alotaibi, ‎mohammed Naser Al-dandan, Sahar Ibrahim Alzidani, Lama Hisham A. Bin Saeed, and Saud Nayef Aldanyowi. 2026. Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 441-451. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029


Chicago Style

Alahmadi, Ahmad Omar, Mohammed Abdulhafedh Ahmed Saleh, Mesfer Naser Aldosari, Abdullah Yousif Alheraiz, Ghofran Hadi Alqahtani, Mohammed Khaled Sherwani, Bandar Mohammed Alharbi, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Alotaibi, ‎mohammed Naser Al-dandan, Sahar Ibrahim Alzidani, Lama Hisham A. Bin Saeed, and Saud Nayef Aldanyowi. "Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 441-451. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alahmadi, Ahmad Omar, Mohammed Abdulhafedh Ahmed Saleh, Mesfer Naser Aldosari, Abdullah Yousif Alheraiz, Ghofran Hadi Alqahtani, Mohammed Khaled Sherwani, Bandar Mohammed Alharbi, Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Alotaibi, ‎mohammed Naser Al-dandan, Sahar Ibrahim Alzidani, Lama Hisham A. Bin Saeed, and Saud Nayef Aldanyowi. "Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.1 (2026), 441-451. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alahmadi, A. O., Saleh, . M. A. A., Aldosari, . M. N., Alheraiz, . A. Y., Alqahtani, . G. H., Sherwani, . M. K., Alharbi, . B. M., Alotaibi, . A. A., Al-dandan, . â. N., Alzidani, . S. I., Saeed, . L. H. A. B. & Aldanyowi, . S. N. (2026) Impact of exercise and physical rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes after upper extremity surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 441-451. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1765576029




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