Rehabilitation after a fracture of the tibia

In the accelerated rhythm of modern life, no one is immune from various injuries, including fractures. An unfortunate situation can happen to anyone and at any age. The injury is received suddenly in a few seconds, and the treatment, unfortunately, will be quite lengthy. But a longer period, several months, is the recovery time. Rehabilitation after a fracture of the tibia also requires a certain period. The main thing to remember is that it is imperative to follow all the prescriptions of doctors, not to be lazy, and then the functionality of the limb will definitely be restored.

How does it happen

One of the most common leg injuries is a fracture of the tibia. It is located on the outside of the leg from the ankle to the knee. This bone takes up to a quarter of the body's weight, injury is possible during jumps, falls or accidents.

Upon receipt of such an injury, the patient must be taken by ambulance to the emergency room or hospital. There, the injured leg will be x-rayed and put in a cast for several weeks or even months, depending on the nature of the fracture.

At the end of the period, a control picture is taken to make sure that the bones have grown together correctly, the plaster is removed. The next stage is difficult and lengthy - rehabilitation.

Recovery after a fracture of the tibia

But after the treatment of the fracture of the fibula, the cast was removed, and the rehabilitation period begins. The most important rule in this period is to strictly follow all the recommendations and prescriptions of the doctor. The recovery period depends on the following factors:

• age of the injured person and gender;
• the type and severity of the injury;
• percentage of bone damage;
• additional and collateral damage;
• possible additional surgical operations or their absence;
• a serious attitude of the patient for a speedy recovery.

The rehabilitation complex includes several important stages that cannot be ignored:

• balanced nutrition, aimed at the speedy recovery of the body;
• taking vitamins, calcium preparations on the recommendation of a doctor, to accelerate the processes of bone fusion;
• warm baths;
• first gentle massage, then intense, to restore muscles, improve and restore blood flow;
• the use of various therapeutic ointments and creams;
• physiotherapy courses, which can begin even in the last weeks of wearing a cast;
• Exercise therapy - physiotherapy exercises allows you to completely restore the leg, gradually develop lost opportunities.

Nutrition during rehabilitation

Everyone knows that when a person is more, it is especially important to balance his diet correctly. In this case, with a fracture, the patient should include in the diet a large number of foods containing calcium: cottage cheese, milk, cheese, kefir.

Canned sardines and salmon are highly recommended during this period, due to the possibility of eating their soft bones. Almonds will definitely speed up the processes of bone fusion, as they contain a lot of calcium.

Vitamins for a fracture

We must not forget about the little things, as it may seem to many, vitamins are an important component for a speedy recovery. If the doctor recommends taking vitamins with a high content of calcium, then you should definitely buy them.

The well-known mummy perfectly accelerates the recovery process - it increases the rate of formation of callus and soft tissues in an open fracture. And this is the main goal when splicing a fracture.

Revitalizing therapeutic baths

Warm (+36 ⁰ C) therapeutic baths give a good effect at the very beginning of rehabilitation, when, after removing the plaster, the muscles are weakened and there are severe pains. Warm water relaxes muscles, relieves spasms. It is enough to immerse your foot in water for 10-20 minutes and try to perform simple movements:

• small amplitude movements;
• rotation or bending of the leg;
• wiggling of the toes.

Massage after fracture

Therapeutic massage several times accelerates the recovery processes in the limb:

• edema disappears faster, blood circulation normalizes and improves;
• the threat of atrophic processes is eliminated;
• possible contractures (restriction in movement) are developed with the help of massage and go away or remain at a minimum.

The first massages are usually superficial and light, consisting of stroking movements. Every day, the intensity of the massage increases, takes on a warming character. At the last stages, the massage is carried out vigorously and combined with physiotherapy exercises.

Cream and ointment after a fracture

The main task of gels, ointments or creams during recovery after a fracture of the fibula is to deliver the necessary medicinal components to a specific sore spot. The systematic use of ointments helps to increase the concentration of the drug at a specific pain point and achieve a therapeutic effect. Thanks to creams and ointments:

• pain syndrome decreases;
• edema subsides faster;
• metabolism improves, and hematomas disappear;

The doctor, taking into account each specific case, can offer ointments:

• decongestants or analgesics - relieve pain and swelling;
• restorative - enhance tissue regeneration and blood circulation;
• anti-inflammatory - accelerate the removal of inflammation and promote healing;
• warming - increase blood flow locally, improve metabolism and relieve pain;
• light hormonal - relieve swelling, accelerate regeneration.

Ointments and creams are often used in combination with massage and physiotherapy:

• in combination with massage, the effect of creams increases due to active rubbing into the skin;
• in combination with physio, the effect of ointments becomes more effective at times.

Restorative physiotherapy

One of the significant stages of recovery is physiotherapy. It can become UHF or Luch, or any other Physio that the doctor prescribes. This treatment is focused locally on a specific pain point, and it allows you to:

• accelerate the processes of bone fusion and healing;
• relieve weeks of swelling, pain;
• improve, restore blood flow;
• reduce and relax muscle spasms.

Rehabilitation with exercise therapy

Rehabilitation after a fracture of the fibula always includes the most important component - this is a special complex of physiotherapy exercises. It is designed and aimed at a specific group of muscles and bones that need to be developed for a specific injury. Exercise therapy always begins with the restoration of the anatomical mobility of the limb, strengthening the muscles and increasing their tone. Minimal loads are gradually supplemented with exercises with large loads and an increase in amplitudes, the number of repetitions. The following exercises are effective in practice:

1. Walking around the room for 5 minutes. Subsequently, with the positive dynamics of recovery, the duration of walking can be increased gradually every day, after consulting with the doctor.
2. Abduction to the side of the leg at 30 degrees, hold for 5-6 seconds, 10 repetitions.
3. Rotate the foot left and right 10 times.
4. Swing your foot back, then forward, 10 times.
5. From a standing position, slowly and gently rise to your toes (on two!) Feet.
6. Exercises lying on your back: raising straight legs, bicycle, scissors, rotation of the feet.

With the positive dynamics of limb recovery, it is possible to add exercises with minor loads and with various simulators to exercise therapy, include more complex exercises and increase the number of repetitions.

At later stages of rehabilitation, daily walks along well-paved paths and parks give positive dynamics. During walks, not only the fibula is perfectly developed, and muscles are restored, but the whole body receives the necessary and useful cardio loads. This is especially useful for the body after a long period of inactivity of the patient in a cast state.

In some cases, the final stages of rehabilitation may be a visit to a specialized sanatorium, where a complete necessary complex will be provided for the final recovery and consolidation of a long and lasting remission.

So, based on the foregoing, with a fracture of the fibula, it is very important not only to go through the entire course of treatment in a cast, but also to be patient for further recovery. Comprehensive rehabilitation, despite the duration, will definitely give its positive result, prevent and relieve the occurrence of complications, contractures. And it is quite possible that in a few years a person will not even remember the injury.