Everyone can agree that living life without incurring a single hurt is the best scenario possible. However, no matter how much care you put into everyday life, mishaps may occur, resulting in injuries.
Among all of the injuries you can sustain in one lifetime, bone fractures are some of the most common, with the recent estimate showing that at least 165,000 people fracture their bones in Australia.
What Is a Bone Fracture?
A bone fracture happens when your bone experiences a sudden force or impact stronger than its ability to withstand. The pressure may disrupt the bone’s growth plate or cause the bone to break into two or more pieces.
The fractured bone becomes very weak, and the surrounding tissue may sustain injury. For example, the cartilage covering the end of a bone (called articular cartilage) may get torn after a fracture. Sometimes, the torn cartilage may cause the bone to become exposed, leading to complications if you don’t treat it at the earliest possible time.
What Are the Symptoms of a Bone Fracture?
Most bone fractures result in swelling, pain, and bleeding in the injured area. Often, the pain is severe and may worsen with continued pressure and movement.
On the other hand, the symptoms may be very mild for fractures that do not break through the skin (closed fractures) and may take some time to develop. The symptoms may include:
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Loss of movement
- Instability in the injured area
How Are Bone Fractures Treated?
Bone fracture treatment varies depending on a number of factors. For example, treatment for fractured ribs relies on the severity, the number of fractured ribs, and the patient’s age. You will need to come in for an x-ray so that the doctor can see if you have a cracked or broken rib.
Patients with cracked ribs often go home with over-the-counter pain meds and instructions to rest. However, if you have a broken rib, you may need to wear a brace to ensure that your ribs heal properly and in the right place.
What Are Other Treatments for Bone Fractures?
There are other remedies for bone fractures, many of which depend on the place and severity of the injury. For fractured ribs, you’ll receive advice to take time off work and practice deep breathing to prevent further complications. If the pain becomes too much, you may ask for prescription pain medication.
Some patients opt for physiotherapy to relieve pressure and prevent further trauma. Here’s how physiotherapy can help you in your healing process.
How Can Physiotherapy Help Fractured Ribs?
Physiotherapy provides several benefits for patients with fractured ribs. Most of the time, physiotherapy focuses on relieving pain, restoring normal movement to the injured region, and preventing further injury.
Specialised physiotherapy treatment for fractured ribs may include the following:
Bicep Strengthening Exercises
Oftentimes, physiotherapists will require patients to perform bicep strengthening exercises if they have suffered fractured ribs. They help restore your upper body movement and relieve some pressure from your ribs.
Examples of bicep strengthening exercises include bicep stretch, bicep curl, and elbow flexion and extension.
Core Workouts and Stretches
Recuperating from a fractured rib may have resulted in weaker back and abdominal muscles. Core exercises during physiotherapy can help you strengthen both, resulting in a healthier torso.
Other than that, various stretching exercises will help you expand your chest cavity, making breathing and moving around easier during your healing period.
Final Thoughts
Preventing fractures requires complete physical exertion and careful planning. However, ruptured and broken bones can happen even to the most cautious individuals. When such a situation occurs, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Physiotherapy can help you recover, but only if you book a session right after your injury. For online physiotherapy consultations in Sydney, consider Invigor Health. Our physiotherapy sessions are injury-focused, helping fix your pain and future-proofing your body. Give us a call today!
