The human body is fragile enough, so none of the people can be insured against damage to the bones. In such cases, not only long-term treatment is required, but also long-term rehabilitation. After fractures, it takes time to regain lost mobility. During this period, physiotherapeutic measures can greatly help.
The essence of the recovery process
Rehabilitation after a fracture involves a number of activities selected by specialists. As a result of this course, the patient, whose physical capabilities are temporarily limited, must again regain lost working capacity. The load schedule is determined by the specialist.
The part of the human body that has been damaged has been inactive for a long time, and this negatively affects blood circulation and leads to general muscle stiffness. In addition, failures can affect other life-supporting systems of the body.
To avoid advanced cases of muscle atrophy, during the first months after bone fusion, attention should be paid to exercise therapy (therapeutic physical culture). A set of exercises is selected strictly individually. In the process of compiling a physiotherapy card, the type of injury received and the general condition of the patient must be taken into account.
In rehabilitation centers for rehabilitation, they are often sent to sanatoriums, each of which may have its own specifics. In such institutions, modern methods of therapy are used. However, not everyone can visit them, therefore, many state clinics have recreational medicine departments and special physical therapy rooms.
What principles underlie?
Different specialists are involved in work during rehabilitation after a fracture. These are physiotherapists, masseurs, therapists, neuropathologists and some other doctors. The effectiveness of the recovery process will depend on how early it was possible to start it.
Basic principles of rehabilitation:
- A complex approach;
- sequential implementation;
- continuity of ongoing activities;
- early start.
Recovery can be medical, professional, and social. The first option plays the most important role. As for the other two types of recovery processes, it makes sense to carry them out when receiving severe injuries to the spine or hips. In this case, the main task is to adapt a person to the social environment and solve problems with professional activity.
What to do after a leg fracture?
With such damage to the limb, the patient is prescribed complex procedures, including exercise therapy, massage and a special diet. It is recommended to take vitamin-mineral supplements, as they contribute to the accelerated healing of bone tissue. Amino acids will be needed to repair damaged muscles.
If there are complications such as crushing of bones or displacement of the resulting fragments, the rehabilitation period will be longer than with simple fractures. The limb in this situation is without movement much longer, so the consequences of low activity can be more pronounced.
Usually, the recovery course involves three main stages:
- Puffiness, which usually appears due to the stay of the leg in a fixed state, is eliminated. For this, ointments that improve blood circulation can be used.
- The joint returns to its former functionality with the help of massage, physiotherapy and mineral baths.
- At the last stage, a special diet is prescribed for the patient, which allows to restore the balance of substances in the body.
Exercise therapy consists in a specific set of exercises. They can begin to be performed 2-3 days after reposition of bone fragments. The number of classes can reach six times a day. Exercises after a broken leg are as follows:
- finger flexion;
- static tension of the leg muscles;
- multidirectional movements in the hip joint.
Over time, the duration of classes increases, and their number decreases. From exercises, those that carry axial load are added (if the hood is not made). After about 20 days, you can load the knee joint. The movements must first have a small amplitude.
For complete rehabilitation after discharge, you must adhere to a diet and perform other exercises:
- squats on both legs;
- cross steps;
- swimming in the pool with a special expander.
As for nutrition, it must be balanced. In any case, you should increase the amount of foods rich in calcium. Of these, it is recommended to consume milk, cottage cheese, sesame and hard cheeses.
How to develop a hand after a fracture?
Damage to the upper extremities with a bone fracture occurs quite often. They can be obtained even with an unsuccessful fall. The rehabilitation period should help a person restore the former functionality of the hand. After removal of the cast, patients feel a bad hand, especially if the case was severe enough.
The rehabilitation period after a fracture can take from 2-3 weeks to several months. Much depends not only on physical abilities, but also on the patient’s desire. Immediately after removing the cast, the arm must be developed through simple exercises.
Sometimes after removing the cast, a person cannot even hold an ordinary cup in his hands. To determine how much the brush has lost functionality, you just need to clench your hand into a fist. If this cannot be completely done, then some exercises should be repeated daily.
The first of them involves the use of plasticine. You have to take a small piece and knead it for several minutes. You can also take a regular tennis ball and practice with it. It should be thrown into the wall, and then caught with one hand. Exercise with the ball will help restore former mobility and gain agility.
Before you develop a hand after a fracture, you can buy balls for table tennis. A few pieces are placed in a palm at once. Balls need to be moved with your fingers, and they should not fall out.
If pain is felt after removing the cast
Often during rehabilitation after a fracture of the hips and other difficult places, quite strong pain sensations appear. Folk remedies can help in their elimination. Perfectly copes with the manifestations of post-traumatic nature comfrey root. It is used not only in the form of decoctions, but also special compresses.
With the appearance of edema, fir oil will help. It is recommended to rub it in exactly the place where the fracture was. You can make baths with the addition of fir to speed up the recovery process. If necessary, applications from copper chips or plates can be used.
Although medicinal herbs are widespread and are actively used in recoveries from fractures, they should be taken only after consulting a specialist, since many of them have certain contraindications. The positive effect after the use of folk remedies is noticeable, as a rule, after a long time.
The specifics of the massage
When applying gypsum, the limb is in an immobilized state for a long time, so the outflow of blood and lymph is disturbed. This leads to the appearance of edema. Massage after a fracture improves blood circulation, returning the muscle structure to its former functionality. The healing process in this case is significantly accelerated.
Massage procedures can be done not only by specialists, but also by relatives of the injured person if some techniques are mastered. There are no difficulties here. The movements should be smooth so that pain is not created. For the procedure, you can use cedar oil, which can anesthetize and relieve tension in the muscles.
The initial massage area is determined by the location of the damage. For example, if the radius is damaged, then the procedure is performed from the shoulder, gradually reaching the hand. In case of a shin injury, it should start from the hip, moving afterwards to the foot. In more complex cases, other areas are kneaded. If the hip itself is broken, then the back with the pelvic part is massaged first. Gradually reach the foot.
The procedure usually takes 15-25 minutes. The larger the muscle around the broken bone, the longer it should be massaged.
Features of magnetotherapy
In rehabilitation centers, a special procedure is often used - magnetotherapy. With its help, it is possible to accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissues. Weak currents form in the circulatory system, increasing the rate of metabolic processes. Minerals directly reach the cells much faster.
High-frequency magnetotherapy involves the impact of eddy currents on the site of injury. It allows you to quickly remove destruction products from the body, as well as stimulate cells to ensure bone regeneration. With magnetic exposure, it is possible to achieve an analgesic effect and relieve muscle cramps.
For the procedure, a cable or cylindrical inductor is used. The first one may have a flat or rounded spiral. The course of high-frequency magnetotherapy consists of 10-12 procedures. In time, they take no more than 15-20 minutes.
Low-frequency magnetotherapy affects the vessels, expanding them. When using it, the main task is to restore impaired blood flow in the tissues of the body.
The main tasks of exercise therapy
It is proven that proper treatment through movement is effective. It helps accelerate the healing of a damaged limb. Any experienced doctor can tell you what effect physical therapy will have on the human body.
At the first stage, exercise therapy is done:
- to prevent thrombosis and congestion;
- accelerate the healing process and relieve local edema;
- high-quality bone callus formation;
- avoid atrophy of muscle structures and reduce joint mobility;
- maintaining vitality.
In the second stage, tasks change. They are as follows:
- resist the appearance of edema;
- improve the condition of the muscles of the damaged limb;
- maintain normal venous outflow;
- prepare the bone for axial loads.
During the period of late rehabilitation after an exercise therapy fracture, it allows:
- completely restore lost functions;
- adapt the leg or arm to the upcoming loads associated with normal life;
- improve opportunities.
Auxiliaries
During the recovery period, pain after a leg or arm fracture can cause certain problems, therefore, special medications are often prescribed, which also have an anti-inflammatory effect. There are a lot of them, but Ibuprofen is most often taken.
Also assigned:
- diuretics to relieve swelling;
- vitamin complexes to accelerate the regeneration processes;
- high calcium products;
- drugs to strengthen the immune system;
- ointments for topical application;
- medicines for the prevention of joint diseases.
Regardless of the nature of the damage, it is strictly forbidden to take medicine without a doctor’s prescription.
Recovery Nutrition
Removal of gypsum after a fracture should not affect the diet. You must continue to eat foods rich in calcium and protein. With a lack of the last of them, the healing process can be delayed. During the rehabilitation period, it is recommended to consume up to 150 grams of protein per day.
As a source of calcium, it is recommended to use:
- dairy products (kefir, cottage cheese and others);
- seafood;
- fresh vegetables (cabbage, carrots, turnips and celery);
- nuts and beans.
To replenish vitamin D, it is advisable to consume:
- liver;
- fish
- egg yolk;
- oatmeal;
- potatoes;
- vegetable oil.
Alcoholic beverages, too fatty foods, coffee, too strong tea, chocolate and other sweets should be removed from the diet. It is not recommended to use sparkling water. Reduce the amount of fatty foods due to the deterioration of calcium absorption. As for alcohol, it does not interfere with the normal formation of bone and cartilage.
A limb fracture leads to a significant load on the body. The healing process requires a large amount of minerals, vitamins and other components. The diet during treatment and rehabilitation should be special. The daily diet should be divided into 5-6 parts. Fractional nutrition allows you to absorb more nutrients and to avoid gaining excess weight, which is able to exert unnecessary stress on not yet fully fused bones. At least two liters of water should also be consumed per day to speed up the output of decay products.