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Have you experienced a fracture somewhere? A fracture is commonly also referred to as a broken bone, but it can also be used to refer to any type of disruption in the bone. For example, this includes small cracks in the bone (hairline/stress fractures), to a complete break through the bone.
Fractures can be a challenge to fully recover from. They can cause stiffness, decreased strength and poor function of the muscles and joints all around the fracture. Depending on the location of the fracture, it can affect the way you walk, function and move. Without proper fracture rehabilitation, these issues may be present for an extended time, if not permanently.
The preceding event was likely some form of trauma, whether it was a car accident, a fall, a work accident, or a sports injury. In rarer cases, stress fractures can form from repetitive loading of the body part, rather than one singular injury. If a fracture is suspected, medical imaging should be done to confirm it on an X-ray. Afterwards, you will be referred to a fracture clinic to have it further assessed. In severe cases, you may need surgery, but for most fractures, which are less severe, immobilization in a cast is the next step for a time period of 6-8 weeks. This time is dependent on age, type of fracture, and location of fracture, so it may be higher or lower than the above time frame. The immobilization period is necessary to allow the bone to heal in its normal position and prevent further injury.
Once the fracture has healed properly, your cast will be removed, and you will be asked to start moving the area again. While the bone is healed, the secondary issues to fracture include:
This is where Physiotherapy Treatment becomes integral. As soon as you are out of your cast, you should start Physiotherapy to minimize the negative effects of being in a cast. The sooner you are able to get your strength, range and confidence in the body part back, the better it is. By waiting, you run the risk of not fully recovering or encountering long-term complications.
The timeline of complete recovery varies greatly based on the type, location and severity of the fracture. Additionally, age plays a big part in the speed at which people recover, where children recover much faster than adults and older adults. As a general guideline, children generally take 3-6 weeks, adults 6-12 weeks, and older adults 12+ to achieve bone union. Union is the name of the process for the stage of healing where the bone has recovered significantly and can handle normal activity. After this time period, the bone enters the next stage called remodeling which lasts for much longer, usually months to a year. In this stage, the bone needs lots of stimulation to continue to get stronger and recover to 100% again.
Every fracture patient’s treatment will be individualized based on their age, overall health, fracture location and severity, their sport and work demands. However, the main areas that physiotherapy will focus on are:
If your fracture was surgically repaired, your recovery may look a bit different, but the same principles as above will still be used. Additional areas that must be looked at in a post-surgical fracture include:
As may be expected, the timeline of recovery for a fracture after surgery will be longer than for a non-surgical fracture. After the surgery, complications must be addressed and carefully monitored. Your Physiotherapist will communicate and coordinate with the rest of your healthcare team to ensure your full recovery.
Our physiotherapists are trained to assess all of the side effects of a fracture and develop an individualized treatment plan for you. Ultimately, we want you to get you back to your normal life as quickly as possible, whether it is your daily tasks or playing a sport. We will help you to regain your movement, strength, and function after the cast is removed. It is very important to regain all of these skills so that you are not vulnerable to future injuries from residual restrictions or weakness in the area.
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After surgery, the fractured joint will be placed in a cast for a set period of time. Once the bone is healed on X-ray, the cast will be removed and the patient will be referred for physiotherapy. The physiotherapist will prescribe treatment to address the pain, swelling, loss of motion and strength. Treatment may include some pain relieving electrical modality, manual treatment, exercises and education. The physiotherapist will be able to advise the patient on when they can return to their usual daily and recreational activities.
Working with an experienced physiotherapist who is going to provide the most appropriate treatment will ensure that the recovery time is as fast possible. The physiotherapist has to prescribe a good set of exercises to address the loss of motion and progress the treatment as the patient shows improvements. The patient can also help speed up the recovery by being diligent and consistent with their home exercises.
Some small bone fractures are not always casted if the fracture is minor in nature. However, there may still be a removable brace that may be prescribed by the doctor. Despite the minor nature of the fracture, there may still be pain, swelling, loss of range and strength. As the fracture is healing, it is important to start physiotherapy treatment to get back to regular activities as soon as possible.
We are a very well-established Mississauga Physiotherapy Clinic with many experienced physiotherapists. Our team at PhysioNow can help you recover from your injuries in a timely manner so that you can get back to doing the things you love.
You have hurt yourself and you need to see a physiotherapist as soon as possible. If you live in the Mississauga area, you are most likely to type in “Physio Mississauga” in google and see which clinics come up! You don’t have to look any further because you have found PhysioNow! We are a very established physiotherapy clinic that has been serving the Mississauga area for over 15 years. We are a highly experienced team of physiotherapists and massage therapists who can help you recover from your pain and get back to living your life! You don’t need the words Physio Mississauga, you need PhysioNow!! Call us today to book your appointment!
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