Diseases of the musculoskeletal system always cause inconvenience, because because of them, normal activity is almost always disrupted. Fractures represent a danger, because after them, for a rather long time, the limb “fails”.
A fracture of the hand is especially dangerous, since with the help of the hands a person performs almost 99 percent of all daily work. Because of this, it is extremely important to devote sufficient time to the restoration of the hand after a fracture.
What activities and exercises are indicated after the fracture and when should they begin?
When to start rehabilitation activities?
The beginning of the recovery period should be at the time of removal of the cast or dressing.
The severity of the fracture is determined by the vastness of the affected area of the bone. If, for example, one of the phalanx bones was broken, sometimes you can restrict yourself to applying a bandage bandage with limited mobility of the finger. If the metacarpal bone or small bones of the wrist are involved in the fracture, it is best to apply gypsum in order to completely immobilize the hand. In this way, the immobility of the parts of the bone is also ensured, as a result of which bone marrow is formed more quickly .
Exercises for developing a hand after a fracture are best started after radiologically confirmed that the bones have grown together. If you start the exercises earlier, there is a high risk of the formation of a false joint at the fracture site, which can lead to loss of limb function.
If you delay with their onset, atrophy of the muscles of the hand may develop, which will lead to its weakness and inferiority.
Exercises
What exercises for developing a hand after a fracture should take place?
First of all, you should start with grasping movements.
The patient is asked to clench his hand. Thus, the tone of the flexor muscles increases, due to which part of the lost skills is restored (the patient begins to try to eat or hold objects with his affected hand). As a variant of this exercise, the patient can be given a piece of plasticine in his hands and asked to squeeze it and crush it. This procedure is best repeated daily several times a day.
A set of exercises for developing a hand after a fracture should include training of extensor muscles. Thus, the flexibility of the brush is restored and the possibility of rotation with it returns.
In addition, it is necessary to restore the reactivity of the brush. An exercise with a tennis ball is perfect for this . It is necessary to throw it against the wall and catch it, however this exercise is forbidden to be carried out in the initial period after removal of the cast.
Exercise therapy
Physiotherapy exercises is an integral part of the recovery period. They begin it at about the same time as individual exercises for developing a hand after a fracture.
Therapeutic exercise is aimed at bringing the decreased muscle tone to order.
Use swing and rotational exercises. Their main goal is to restore reduced blood flow in the atrophied muscles of the hand, improve their innervation, and increase sensitivity.
Over time, endurance exercises are added to the complex. The patient is given to hold light objects in the hand (i.e., a static load is given). In this way, flexor muscles are trained, and arm strength is also restored.
What is the difference between personal exercises for developing a hand after a fracture from exercise therapy?
Physiotherapy exercises consists of an approved set of exercises and is carried out in session. Over the entire course of exercise therapy, it is possible to almost completely restore the affected hand.
Massage
For the most complete restoration of the hand after a fracture, just exercises are not enough. Some massage measures are also used to improve local blood circulation.
Massage helps accelerate the flow of blood through the vessels of atrophied muscles. As a result of this, the muscles get the amount of nutrients they need, due to which their fastest recovery occurs.
Use classic massage techniques such as rubbing, chopping, sawing or squeezing. Each of these exercises should be carried out with accuracy, but with due intensity.
Massage is prescribed to patients in parallel with physical therapy, however, exercise therapy, and massage should be done every other day, alternating procedures.
It is better to entrust it to specially trained medical staff, as these people know a certain technique, as a result of which rehabilitation after a bone fracture is faster.
Exercise and Procedure Requirements
Given that the muscles are weakened and atrophied, care should be taken with respect to the affected limb.
During the exercise, you need to maintain the brush with a healthy hand. Thus, at the initial stages the probability of her repeated injury is excluded.
During the exercise, some soreness in the limb is possible, which the patient should be warned about. This phenomenon will be observed relatively briefly, and over time, as the brush comes in tone, it will disappear.
The development of the hand after a fracture should be carried out smoothly, without sudden movements. This safety technique helps to eliminate the risk of repeated injury to the limb.
If the patient feels heaviness or fatigue in the damaged hand when following the instructions or instructions of the instructor, be sure to give him a short break.
The importance of rehab exercises
Unfortunately, many patients do not follow the instructions of the attending physician regarding the period after discharge from the hospital, although this plays a significant role in the recovery process.
When carrying out all the above measures and actions in 90 percent of cases, it is possible to achieve complete rehabilitation and restoration of limb function. Such recommendations must be followed several times a day to prevent stagnation of blood in the atonic muscles, the degradation of which resulted in a fracture of the hand.
Exercises are best done in the morning, after a short workout. This time is recognized as the most suitable for the restoration of the affected limb.
If you neglect the instructions of a rehabilitation doctor, it is possible to develop various complications in the form of joint contractures or tendons. The most important thing is to correctly perform the proposed exercises and not to miss classes. Only then is it possible to fully recover and return to normal life.