Rehabilitation after a fracture of the clavicle

Clavicle fracture is a fairly common occurrence in traumatology. It is detected not only in adults, but also in newborns. At birth, damage to the collarbone can occur due to rapid labor or incorrect actions of obstetricians. In other people, the fracture occurs due to a bruise or other injury to the collarbone.

The duration of rehabilitation depends on how quickly the diagnosis was made and treatment started. Rehabilitation after a fracture of the collarbone is the final period. It is no less important than the treatment itself. After all, the functioning of the bone in the future depends on this stage.

The duration of the recovery period

Collarbone fracture often occurs in young people. It is very important that the diagnosis and treatment of the fracture be carried out in a timely manner. Then healing will happen much faster. It is difficult to talk about exact numbers, as it depends on many factors. However, you can determine the approximate recovery time, based on the age of the patient:

• in a child, recovery takes 3-4 weeks;
• in adolescents 6-8 weeks;
• in an adult, recovery takes 8-10 weeks.

The recovery period includes massage, exercise therapy and physiotherapy. In these matters, it is recommended to follow the recommendations of the doctor. The entire recovery period has several stages.

Stages of rehabilitation

After a fracture, the main thing is the fixation of the affected bone. If it is not possible to connect the fragments with a plaster or other fixing bandage, then surgical intervention is performed. This is rarely done. After the operation, no plaster is required, which allows you to speed up the recovery period. However, rehabilitation is usually divided into three stages.

First stage

It includes limb immobilization. It can be done with plaster or other dressings. Lasts about three weeks. For 2-3 days after the injury, exercise therapy can be performed. First, simple exercises are performed that do not require much effort. Further, the exercises become more difficult. At this stage, you can also start using massage and other procedures.

Second phase

The difficulty of the exercises increases. At this stage, it is necessary to use gymnastic sticks. Usually exercises consist of flexion and extension of the shoulder.

Third stage

At this stage, it is necessary to restore full motor activity of the shoulder. Exercise therapy is complicated by exercises that involve the use of dumbbells and other devices.

To restore the collarbone faster, physiotherapy and massage are used. However, these procedures should be prescribed only by a doctor, and not independently.

Medical treatment

Medication is required during rehabilitation after a fracture of the clavicle with displacement. Patients who have undergone osteosynthesis are prescribed chondroprotectors. As part of substances that have a beneficial effect on cartilage and bone tissue.

In the postoperative period, antibacterial drugs, vitamin complexes and painkillers are also prescribed.

exercise therapy

Therapeutic exercises can be started 2-3 days after the fracture. At the first stage, you need to perform light exercises. It is recommended to do 5 times a day. All exercises should be completed, but take periodic breaks. At the initial stage, it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the fixing bandage. It is recommended to perform the following exercises at the initial stage of rehabilitation:

exercise therapy at stage 1

At the initial stage, the following exercises are performed (7-10 repetitions):

1. Breeding and bringing together the fingers of the hand.
2. Flexion and extension of the hand into a fist.
3. Fingers alternately need to touch the tip of the thumb.
4. Snaps with every finger.
5. Rotational movements with fingers alternately.
6. Raising and lowering the brushes.
7. Bending the brush in different directions.
8. Circular movements of the brush.

After removing the fixing bandage, you can develop the elbow joint of the affected limb.

exercise therapy at stage 2

Exercises must be repeated 8-10 times. An approximate recovery set of exercises at stage 2 is as follows:

1. Rotational movements of the elbows in both directions.
2. Hands along the body. Raising and lowering hands (tempo is slow).
3. Lifting straight arms, and then pulling them back.
4. Move your left hand up and your right hand down. And vice versa.
5. With a gymnastic stick in your hands, you need to raise and lower your hands.
6. With a stick, perform circular movements in front of you.
7. Raise the stick above your head, then lower it over your head and behind your head.

Exercises at the second stage are carried out for about two weeks, until the movement is fully restored.

Exercise therapy at stage 3

At the third stage, the functions of the limb are almost completely restored. Exercise is not limited by time. It is necessary to perform 8-10 repetitions. Approximate set of exercises:

1. The patient stands in front of the stairs and holds his hands at shoulder level. Without lowering the ladder, he crouches.
2. Similar starting position. The patient leans with his chest on the stairs, and then back.
3. The patient raises the therapeutic ball above his head, then lowers it down and pushes it between his legs.
4. With the ball in his hands, performs circular movements above his head.
5. Throws and catches the ball.
6. Raises the dumbbells up.
7. Rotational movements with dumbbells.

In addition to exercise therapy, massage and physiotherapy are prescribed.

Massage

The course of massage begins on the second day after the injury. The patient sits, the massage therapist massages the healthy part of the back and chest. It is carried out 2 times a day, for 8-12 minutes.

After removing the bandage, they begin to massage the diseased limb. A gentle massage is used on this area. In other areas, intensive massage is carried out. In addition to massage elements, passive movements and movements with resistance are used.

Physiotherapy

These methods help to eliminate pain, relieve inflammation and normalize blood circulation. Physiotherapy can be carried out a few days after the injury. The following methods are used:

• paraffin and ozocerite applications;
• magnetotherapy;
• phonophoresis;
• electrophoresis;
• laser therapy.

If you combine physiotherapy with other recommendations, then the result will be positive and the working capacity of the limb will be restored.

Nutrition

During the recovery period, proper nutrition is important. It plays a big role in bone fusion and can speed up this process.

In order for the bones to grow together faster, the food should contain the required amount of protein, calcium and vitamin D. It is recommended to drink a glass of fermented milk drink daily.

Vitamin D in foods is essential for the absorption of calcium. It is present in fatty fish and cod liver. Protein is also needed, which is a building material. Meat and poultry are recommended to be consumed boiled.

In case of a fracture, it is useful to eat 1-2 eggs, preferably in the form of an omelet. It is also recommended to add a teaspoon of butter to food.

Calcium is found not only in animal products, but also in plant origin. Sesame seeds, parsley and cabbage have such properties. They help to supply nutrients to the body.

Sweet lovers can add a teaspoon of honey to a glass of kefir. All nutrients provide bone growth. In addition, they strengthen the immune system.

Vitamin D is also synthesized in the skin. To do this, daily exposure to the sun helps, but not more than 15 minutes.

Complications

The recovery period for a displaced clavicle fracture is sometimes delayed. Complications after a fracture of the collarbone can be early and late.

Early ones occur at the time of injury and immediately after surgery. Complications are characterized by infection, bleeding, and damage to nearby tissues by bone fragments.

Late complications develop with improper treatment of the fracture. Because of this, the bone does not heal properly, which limits the mobility of the limb. This can lead to disability.

If there is a large distance between the bones, then a false joint is formed.

Thus, fracture of the clavicle occurs quite often even in newborns. It is important to diagnose and treat the injury in time, otherwise there is a risk of limiting joint mobility in the future.