Post Fracture Rehabilitation
Physical therapy after a fracture often focuses on overcoming the negative effects of being immobilized by a cast or sling. Immobilization may cause loss of motion and strength and decreased functional mobility. If you have had the unfortunate injury of a fracture or broken bone, then you may understand how painful this can be. A broken bone requires swift medical attention to ensure proper healing and alignment of the bone.
After a fracture, your bone will be set, or reduced, by a doctor. Reduction of the bone can be done manually. For more serious fractures, a surgical procedure called an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) may be necessary to make sure that all the bone pieces are in the correct place and healing can occur.
Often after fracture, the bone needs to be stabilized or immobilized to ensure proper healing. This is usually accomplished using a cast. For simple fractures, your doctor may elect to apply a removable cast so that gentle motion can occur around the injury site. After complex fractures or an ORIF procedure, you may be required to wear a cast that is not to be removed. If you fracture your shoulder or arm, you may be required to wear a sling to keep the arm immobilized. Check with your doctor to ensure that you understand what is expected of you in regard to immobilization.