Can Physical Therapy Help You Recover From a Fracture?
Identifying sports-related fractures and how physical therapy is the answer!
Fractures are painful injuries that are often the result of a sports-related accident. Although the bones in our body are strong and resilient, fractures are common injuries that are often the result of sports-related incidents.
Physical therapists are rehabilitation experts who are licensed to treat post-fracture symptoms. Rather than dealing with the pain or letting a fracture heal on its own, you can rely on our physical therapists at Smith Physical Therapy in Taft, TX and get back to your athletic performance in no time!
To set up an appointment at Smith Physical Therapy in Taft, TX, call our clinic today!
What is a bone fracture?
Fractures are caused by an unexpected force that causes a bone to break or split. Often referred to as a “broken bone,”, fractures are frequently caused by rough sports or athletic performance. Older adults who are susceptible to osteoporosis and children who participate in high-risk activities are also more likely to experience bone fractures.
Fractures from sports injuries commonly affect the wrists, collarbones, hands, feet, and ankles. Stress fractures also occur frequently in sports which are the result of repetitive movements. For example, runners and gymnasts are more susceptible to sustaining stress fractures.
What does a fracture feel like?
Most fractures cause severe pain at the time of the first injury, which may get worse with movement or physical contact. Other signs of a fracture include:
- swelling, redness, and bruises in the affected area
- snapping or grinding sound when the injury happens
- having trouble bearing weight on the afflicted area
- noticeable deviation in the region of injury
How can a physical therapist help?
In most fracture cases, a physical therapist can reset the alignment of the broken bone through a process called reduction. The purpose of reduction is to ensure the bone is in its correct place to avoid improper healing. If a fracture isn’t treated properly, the fracture could face complications in the future. In more serious cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the bone’s alignment.
Fortunately, at Smith Physical Therapy in Taft, TX, our therapists know exactly how to treat the effects of a fracture, along with many other sports injuries. To set up an appointment, call our clinic today!
Treatments & what to expect
At Smith Physical Therapy in Taft, TX, our goal is to get you back in the game as soon as possible. We provide rehabilitative exercises that will restore your range of motion, improve strength, and boost your functional mobility after a fracture or surgery. Some exercises that our sports therapists recommend include:
- Patient education: PTs will teach patients how to successfully achieve daily tasks such as climbing stairs and lifting through patient education.
- Therapeutic massage: Fractures often cause edema, swelling, and inflammation of soft tissue. In this case, your physical therapist will use therapeutic massage to target areas of pain and ease tension.
- Scar management (postoperative): In postoperative cases, scar management may be integrated into a treatment plan. This helps to keep the skin supple and flexible after surgery, which encourages the prevention of an abnormal healing process.
- Ice therapy: Icing is an effective way to reduce pain and swelling. This works by constricting blood vessels and decreasing circulation to the affected area.
- Stretching: Stretching targets the joints and helps to regain your normal range of movement.
- Manual therapy: Manual therapy means that your therapist will use their hands to focus on the affected area. This helps to restore joint mobility and alleviate pain.
- Strengthening regime: Strengthening exercises are usually necessary at a certain point in recovery to regain muscle mass and bone density. These techniques promote healthy recovery and stronger athletic performance once you’re cleared for exercise.
Your physical therapist will begin with a complete examination where he or she will collect important details about your medical history, current symptoms, and recovery goals. All of these components will help to determine the treatment plan that will work best for you.
Request an appointment today!
Eager to get back up and running again? We have the solutions you need! With results-driven treatment methods, our experienced team is here to guide you through recovery both safely and quickly. Call us at Smith Physical Therapy in Taft, TX to schedule an appointment today!
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!
