Broken bones, also known as bone fractures, result when a force is applied to the bone that is greater than it can withstand. While in most cases forces applied to a bone through daily activities and weight bearing actually strengthen a bone, a sudden powerful force that exceeds the bone’s tolerance will result in a fracture.

In most cases, a significant force is needed to fracture a bone such as the force that occurs during a fall or a car accident. Another category of fractures known as stress fractures can occur through repeated stress on the bone without sufficient recovery. A runner who is running high mileage may experience this type of fracture while training for a marathon. Decreased bone mineral density like that which occurs from osteoporosis can predispose a bone to fracture more easily.

HOW DO I KNOW THE BONE IS BROKEN?

In many cases there is no mistaking a broken bone. In other cases, however, it can be more difficult to distinguish a broken bone from say a sprain or a strain. In all but the most obvious cases, such as a compound fracture in which fragments of bone are protruding from the skin, imaging like x-rays or MRI is needed to confirm a fractured bone. Symptoms of a broken bone can include the following:

• Deformities of the bone (the area looks misshapen, the bone looks out of place or looks different than before the injury)
• Pain (ranging from moderate to severe) both at rest and with movement
• Difficulty or inability to move the affected area
• Pain with or inability to bear weight through the area
• Localized swelling
• Bruising
• Pain with palpation (touching) of the area

Early treatment: Because reduced or non-weight bearing and oftentimes immobilization is needed to allow bone to heal, early physical therapy treatment will consist of a lot of education and training. Your PT may educate you on the use of ice and elevation to manage pain and swelling, on how to maintain your weight bearing restrictions while performing daily activities and on how to utilize assistive devices like crutches or a walker. They may also prescribe some exercises for you to perform with uninvolved areas of the body to prevent loss of strength and fitness.

Later treatment: When your doctor has determined that your bone has healed sufficiently, you will begin to perform exercises with the involved limb or area. Increasing weight bearing and learning to walk normally again is an important step in recovering from a lower body fracture. Stiffness and weakness are commonly seen in the area after immobilization and targeting these areas with PT can help you return to your previous level of activities.

You can expect to begin strengthening and possibly stretching the area around the fracture. Activities that slowly increase the stress and forces applied through the previously-fractured area can facilitate continued bone healing and prepare you to return to higher force activities like running and lifting. If you are recovering from a stress fracture your PT will educate you on how to reduce your risk of future bone stress injuries through proper training and diet.

If you have recently broken a bone, with the help of our skilled PTs you can feel confident you are doing everything possible to support your body’s healing process and facilitate long-term recovery. Call us today to learn more about our services and schedule an evaluation: