Fractures are very painful and require prompt medical treatment. A broken bone requires correct medical care for ensuring accurate alignment and healing of the bone. Most fractures require immobilization or manual reduction followed by many sessions of physiotherapy. Leg fracture treatment is the most dreadful thing that can happen to a human. Broken leg treatment should be treated under the guidance of expert doctors. Also, the leg fracture recovery time can vary from 4 weeks to 12 weeks or even more. To help you with all the required information regarding the leg fracture, Care 24 has brought some useful information about leg fracture treatment. Below we have provided some tips for faster fracture healing, we hope that it helps you to heal faster and live a pain-free life.
Common Sites of Fracture
Fractures of the leg can occur at:
- The femur (thigh bone) is the biggest and strongest bone in the body. It fits into the pelvis at the hip joint where fractures can occur easily due to the high joint mobility. Fracture at this place is commonly known as a broken hip.
- The lower portion of the femur that rests on the top of tibia forms the knee joint. Fractures can occur at the knee cap, where the patella glides back and forth in front of the knee joint.
- The tibia, also known as the shinbone, is the most common site for fractures in the body.
- The ankle joint consisting of the lower ends of the tibia and fibula connecting to the foot bones, ligaments and tendons.
- The kneecap (patella) slides back and forth in the front of the knee joint. The kneecap suspends the ligaments in the thigh muscle and also helps to add weight for straightening the leg out.
Common Causes of Fracture
Usually, leg fractures occur due to trauma, accidents or bone tumour disease. Chief symptoms include pain, swelling, and deformity. The diagnosis is generally confirmed through an X-ray.
The three most frequent causes of a broken leg are:
- Trauma. A leg fracture could be the result of a fall, a vehicle accident, or a consequence while playing sports.
- Overuse. Repetitive pressure or overuse may result in stress fractures.
- Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which the body is losing too much bone or making too little bone. It causes weak bones which are more likely to break.
Physical Therapy after Removal of Cast
The aim of recovery is to develop the strategy of handling the pain in such a way that the patient gets back to the pre-injury leg function to the maximum. The usual healing time for fractures is approximately 12 to 16 weeks in a cast followed by a session of physiotherapy.
Thus, whether the fracture has been immobilized, reduced or undergone surgery, here are certain tips that can ensure a faster recovery period at home.
Ways to Speed up Healing Process during Leg Fracture Recovery Time
- During the healing period, assistive devices, like crutches or wheelchair, may be required. This is usually until the time you can apply weight to the affected region. This can also help and improve the range of walking.
- Physiotherapy will be involved to regain muscle strength, tone, and flexibility.
- In order to get relief from pain, swelling, tenderness, and bruising during the first 48 hours of a fracture, follow PRICE protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation in addition to prescribed pain killers.
- Take Vitamin D and calcium supplements for faster recovery and bone strength.
Follow these tips for faster fracture healing and speed up your recovery process.
Physical Therapy at Home or Clinic
- Physical therapy for healing a leg fracture involves a series of stretching, strengthening, and motion exercises. These will be advised by your therapist to improve the overall strength and endurance of muscles around the fracture site.
- It is vital to maintaining specific weight-bearing restrictions if you break your leg or ankle.
- Once the cast has been removed, the weight-bearing restriction should be still continued for a short period.
- Electrical stimulation may also be used to improve muscle recruitment.
- Dynamic activities should be encouraged for improving the range of mobility.
- If surgery occurs, then scar massage is important to reduce scar adhesions and improve the range of motion around the scar.
- Exercises should be emphasized especially in all the joints around the fractured area.
- Light stretches of muscles of hips, knee, and ankles are important.
Exercises done should be mainly functional and similar to daily activities like climbing steps, rising from a chair, or lifting a bag slowly. These, if this tips for faster fracture healing are followed regularly minimum thrice a week for six months, it will show a significant improvement in the function as well as mobility.
