RehabFAQs

how to rehab a broken collarbone

by Lurline Emmerich Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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The arm should be moved as little as possible. An ice pack wrapped in a towel should be applied directly to the broken collarbone. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are effective over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers for adults; avoid aspirin use in children.

Full Answer

What is the healing time for a broken collar bone?

Shoulder flexion (lying down) Lie on your back, holding a wand with both hands. Your palms should face down as you hold the wand. Keep your elbows straight, and slowly raise your arms over your head until you feel a stretch in your shoulders, upper... Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 2 to 4 times.

How do you repair a broken collar bone?

Pendulums: Perform two minutes each of front to back, side to side, and both clockwise/counter clockwise circles. Supine shoulder flexion with cane: Perform 2 x 20 reps staying in a pain-free range of motion. Supine shoulder external rotation with cane: Perform 2 x 20 reps staying in a pain free range of motion.

What can be done for a broken collarbone?

Broken collarbone rehab protocol. Download PDF. DO NOT elevate surgical arm above 90 degrees in any plane for the first 4 weeks post-op. DO NOT lift any objects over 5 pounds with the surgical arm for the first 6 weeks. AVOID REPEATED reaching for the first 6 weeks. recommend regular icing routine for the first 2 weeks; please consult Post-Op Icing handout for full details.

How long does it take for a collar bone to heal?

Non-surgical Treatment of Clavicle Fractures: If your clavicle fracture is 'good position', no surgery is required. The arm should be supported in a sling for around 6 weeks to allow the break to heal. Your surgeon will see you and take regular xrays to make sure that the bone is healing well. Removing the sling too early

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What is the fastest way to heal a broken collarbone?

The most common way to treat the fractures in the middle is with immobilization with either a sling or a special bandage called a figure-of-8 splint. Studies have shown that these fractures heal just as quickly and as well with a sling as with the figure-of-8 splint, so we recommend a sling in a majority of cases.

How long is rehab for broken collarbone?

Eight to 12 weeks of physical therapy is common after surgery. During the first week after surgery, your physical therapist will help you control pain and swelling. They may begin some gentle motion exercises. You will wear a sling or brace for support and comfort.Apr 29, 2021

How do I regain strength after broken collarbone?

Chest stretch (lying down)Lie on your back with your elbows bent. Your arms should be out to your sides, and your arms and elbows should be resting on the surface you are lying on, such as the floor.Raise your hands above your head until you feel a stretch in your chest.Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.Repeat 2 to 4 times.

How do I strengthen my collar bone?

1:052:27What Exercises Are Good to Build Muscle Around the Collarbone?YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd with straight arms you lift the dumbbells up in front of your body - they're parallel to yourMoreAnd with straight arms you lift the dumbbells up in front of your body - they're parallel to your collarbone pause. And then lower them down.

When should I start physio after broken collarbone?

Start these exercises 6 weeks after your injury and to do 4-5 times a day. When you have regained full range of movement in the stage 2 exercises without pain you can start to do these exercises without the support of your other hand. This is known as active range of movement.

Can you lift weights with a broken collarbone?

Most people notice some improvement in pain as the fracture begins to heal. We allow movement of the shoulder as tolerated. However, weight lifting restrictions are placed until the bone has healed.

Can a broken collarbone cause shoulder pain later in life?

Clavicle fracture is commonly treated conservatively. However uncommon complication can arise causing impingement. We report a patient who sustained distal clavicle fracture and was treated conservatively. However he developed persistent shoulder pain that affected his daily life.

How do you know if your collar bone is healed?

You may feel a bump where the fracture healed. The bump may get smaller on its own over time, but it might never go away completely. You may also have less strength in your shoulder and arm. But unless you have other injuries, you can often return to normal activities within a few weeks.Nov 4, 2020

What activities can you do with a broken collarbone?

You can move and use the arm and shoulder without pain. In general, people can go back to noncontact sports (such as running or swimming) in about 6 weeks and contact sports (such as football, lacrosse, and hockey) in 8–12 weeks.

Can you exercise with a broken collarbone?

Always keep within a pain-free range of motion and be sure to not push into pain. Also, start with just the weight of your arm until you can perform the exercise through the entire range of motion.

How do you sleep with a broken collarbone?

Using extra pillows to prop yourself up when sleeping with a broken clavicle can help relieve pain. Sleeping in a more upright position may be more comfortable and allow for a better rest. You may also find it more comfortable to use pillows to prop up the arm on the side of your body with the fracture.Jul 5, 2021

How to deal with a broken collarbone?

Dealing With a Broken Collarbone. Once the collarbone break is confirmed with an x-ray, the doctor will recommend seeking further advice from an orthopedic specialist. Upon meeting with the orthopedist, they will advise you either to go under the knife and have the collarbone reduced surgically with plates and screws.

What is the collarbone?

Your collarbone (clavicle) is a long thin bone that runs from your breast bone (sternum) to your shoulder blade (scapula). Its purpose is to act as a strut between the two attachment points and the shoulder blade fixed to allow the arm to move about unrestricted. For the purpose of this article, we will divide the types ...

How to do range of motion exercises?

Range of Motion Exercises 1 Pendulums: Perform two minutes each of front to back, side to side, and both clockwise/counter clockwise circles. 2 Supine shoulder flexion with cane: Perform 2 x 20 reps staying in a pain-free range of motion. 3 Supine shoulder external rotation with cane: Perform 2 x 20 reps staying in a pain free range of motion.

How long do you have to be in a sling for a shoulder fracture?

If you are fortunate and the pieces of collarbone are relatively close together and line up well, you will be placed in a sling for 6 to 10 weeks. Every case and orthopedist is different – normally you will be instructed to keep your arm and shoulder as still as possible to encourage the two pieces of bone to mend with the only exercises being pendulums and possibly passive range of motion to discourage the shoulder from freezing.

How many reps should I do for shoulder flexion?

Supine shoulder flexion with cane: Perform 2 x 20 reps staying in a pain-free range of motion. Supine shoulder external rotation with cane: Perform 2 x 20 reps staying in a pain free range of motion. Ideally, perform these exercises two to three times per day until functional range of motion is regained.

How to strengthen the deltoid?

Standing shoulder flexion and abduction: These help to strengthen the deltoid and regain functional reaching. Rows: Either with bands, cables, or machine. This helps to increase arm and middle back strength. Be sure to focus on engaging the muscles between the shoulder blades and to keep your neck relaxed.

What is the procedure called when you put a plate on your collarbone?

This is called a collarbone O.R.I.F. (Open Reduction Internal Fixation). Here is my collarbone after the surgery.

What is isometric shoulder abduction?

isometric shoulder abduction, adduction, extension and flexion with arm at side. -Soft tissue treatments for associated shoulder and neck musculature for comfort. cardiovascular training such as well arm cycling, biking for Active Recovery.

How long after surgery can you lift your arm?

DO NOT lift any objects over 5 pounds with the surgical arm for the first 6 weeks. AVOID REPEATED reaching for the first 6 weeks.

How to fix a broken collarbone?

For severe collarbone fractures in which the bone has broken into several pieces, an orthopedic surgeon will need to perform procedure called an open reduction and internal fixation to realign the bones and fix them with plates, screws, or rods. This will help the bone heal properly and in an aligned position as well as prevent the development of malunions. Depending on the surgeon and your specific injury, your surgeon may remove the hardware once your bone has healed. Along with surgical treatment is regular monitoring of your healing using X-rays to ensure that you are healing properly and that there are no signs of complications.

What is it called when your collarbone breaks?

If your bones have broken into two or more pieces and have moved out of place, they may heal improperly, which is called a malunion. A malunion can cause long-term issues and often has to be addressed with complex surgery.

How long to keep arm in sling after clavicle injury?

Use a sling . Keep your injured arm in a sling for three to four weeks post-injury to help support the clavicle as it heals. 2 . See your doctor . Keep your doctor's appointments and see your physical therapist during your rehab.

How to avoid a fractured arm?

Don't lift too much. Avoid lifting anything with the fractured arm until cleared by your doctor. Don't shrug, slouch, or let your shoulders round while in the sling. While using a sling, it's important to watch your body mechanics and maintain proper bone and muscle alignment to avoid future problems.

What is the muscle on the back of the upper arm responsible for extending the elbow?

Isometric triceps exercises : The triceps brachii is the muscle on the back of the upper arm primarily responsible for extending the elbow. Rest your injured arm on a table with your elbow at 90 degrees. Make a fist and press onto the table with your entire forearm, from fist to elbow.

What can a physical therapist do to help restore mobility?

Your physical therapist can recommend using heat, ice, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( TENS ). Range of motion (ROM): Joint mobilization techniques can help restore joint mobility and your therapist will teach you how to do these at home. Several exercises are used to help restore range of motion.

What exercises can help with immobilization?

Strength: Strengthening exercises will help restore the muscle and bone strength lost during immobilization. 3 . Scar tissue mobility: If you had surgery for your fracture, your physical therapist may use scar mobilization and massage techniques and teach you how to do self-massage at home.

How to stop a therapist from catching your joints?

You may include the following: Increase the intensity of strength-training exercises. Begin sports-specific skill drills and exercises.

What is the best exercise routine for a sprained arm?

During isometric exercises, you contract your muscles without movement. Here are the exercises you can expect: Pendulum exercise : In this exercise, you bend forward at the waist and let your injured arm hang down toward the ground.

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