- Use ice: Ice the injured shoulder for 15 minutes three times per day or as needed to help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
- 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.
Medication
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
Procedures
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 ...
Therapy
Jan 17, 2022 · Physical Therapy Exercises for Recovery From a Clavicle Fracture Guidelines for Clavicle Fracture Rehab. Use ice: Ice the injured shoulder for 15 minutes three times per day or as... Physical Therapy. You may be referred to physical therapy three to four weeks after your injury. Your physical ...
Self-care
Apr 01, 2022 · After the first day, ice the area every 3 to 4 hours for 20 minutes each time. Do this for 2 days or longer. For pain, you can use ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can buy these pain medicines at the store.
Nutrition
What is the healing time for a broken collar bone?
How do you repair a broken collar bone?
What can be done for a broken collarbone?
How long does it take for a collar bone to heal?
How long does it take to rehab a broken collarbone?
Most collarbone fractures heal in six to eight weeks, without surgery or complications. Most people are able to start getting back to normal activities by three months or so, but full recovery may take up to six to 12 months.Nov 4, 2020
How do I regain strength after broken collarbone?
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 back, and chest.Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.Repeat 2 to 4 times.
What is the minimum recovery time for a broken clavicle?
Clavicle fractures in children (younger than 8 years old) may heal in four or five weeks, and clavicle fractures in adolescents may take six to eight weeks. However, fractures in adults or teenagers who have stopped growing take 10 to 12 weeks to heal and may take longer.
What are the long term effects of a broken collarbone?
A Collarbone Fracture is not life threatening but can impact a patient's quality of life and function. Short Term - to pain, sleep disturbance and disability. Long Term - to malunion or non-union, that can result in ongoing pain and loss of function .
What is the fastest way to heal a collarbone?
To help speed the healing, you might get:A splint or brace to keep your shoulder from moving.A sling for your arm, which you might use for a few days.Anti-inflammatory painkillers, like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, which will help with pain and swelling. ... Range-of-motion and strengthening exercises.More items...•Nov 1, 2021
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.
What should you not do with a broken collarbone?
For about the first 4–6 weeks:Avoid raising your arms above shoulder level.Avoid lifting anything that weighs more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg). ... Stay out of all sports and physical education.Do all exercises to prevent elbow and shoulder stiffness and to help with muscle strength.Go to physical therapy, if needed.More items...
How should you sleep with a broken collarbone?
Try sleeping with pillows propped under your arm for comfort. After a few days, put your fingers, wrist, and elbow through their full range of motion several times a day. This will keep them from getting stiff.
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 painful is a broken collarbone?
A broken collarbone can be very painful and can make it hard to move your arm. Many clavicle fractures can be treated by wearing a sling to keep the arm and shoulder from moving while the bone heals. With some clavicle fractures, however, the pieces of bone move far out of place when the injury occurs.
Can you drive with broken collarbone?
What should I avoid doing with a broken collarbone? With a broken collarbone, you should avoid doing anything that worsens the pain. For example, if driving is painful, then avoid driving until the fracture is healed. You can gradually ease yourself into doing activities that involve little to no pain.Nov 17, 2021
Why is my collarbone cracking?
Collarbone popping can be caused by problems with any of them. Injury, lax ligaments, or hypermobile joints are also possible causes. Get medical attention for popping caused by trauma, infection, or inflammation, or if you can't move your shoulder.Jan 28, 2022
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.
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 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 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.
How to build shoulder range of motion?
Here are some exercises they may suggest in addition to the standard daily plan: Begin passive wall crawl or easy pulley exercises twice a day to build shoulder range of motion. 5  To do the wall crawl, simply walk your fingers up a wall as high as you can without too much discomfort in the shoulder.
How to rehab a collarbone?
Rehab may include range of motion exercises like shoulder shrugs, pendulum swings and shoulder flexion. Shoulder shrugs should be completed without hand weights in this stage. To perform a pendulum swing, support yourself with your healthy arm on placing your palm on a table or heavy piece of furniture. Slowly swing your injured arm as far forward as you can, and then backward, stopping if you experience significant pain. Shoulder flexions are done by placing your injured arm next to a wall. Your hand should face your body and your forearm should come in contact with the wall. Slowly slide your arm up the wall until your upper arm also touches the wall. Slide as high as you can without pain.
How to treat a broken collarbone?
Most broken collarbones are treated non-surgically by immobilizing your arm in a sling for several weeks. If your collarbone is displaced, or out or normal alignment, surgery is required.
How to rehab a clavicle fracture?
Strengthening exercises for rehab are appropriate for most clavicle fracture patients to begin about three months after surgery. This type of rehab helps you regain the strength you have lost during recovery from the fracture and subsequent surgery. Arm curls work your bicep and tricep muscles and can be completed with hand weights ranging from two to five pounds, depending on your overall strength and condition. Keep your arm extended fully, grip the weight and bend your arm as much as you can without pain. Hold the position for 10 seconds before releasing. Chest raise s are usually part of a rehab program post-clavicle alignment surgery. Lie on your stomach with your arms straight at your sides. Raise your chest off the ground and hold for five seconds. This exercise is to be done without using your hands and is not the same as a pushup.
What to do after collarbone surgery?
If your collarbone is displaced, or out or normal alignment, surgery is required. Rehab after surgery helps you regain normal motion of your arm and shoulder.
How long does it take for a sling to heal after surgery?
Your doctor will monitor your healing for the first six to eight weeks after surgery before prescribing physical therapy exercises.
How to do chest raises after clavicle surgery?
Lie on your stomach with your arms straight at your sides. Raise your chest off the ground and hold for five seconds. This exercise is to be done without using your hands and is not the same as a pushup.
Can you stretch your arm after clavicle surgery?
Do not lift, reach, push, pull or stretch with the affected arm. After clavicle surgery to correct a displaced fracture, your only rehab concern is to keep your arm relatively still in an arm sling or a figure of eight wrap.
How long after a broken collarbone can you play sports?
If your arm, shoulder, or collarbone begins to hurt, stop and rest. Most people are advised to avoid contact sports for a few months after their collarbones have healed. Do not place rings on your fingers until your provider tells you it is safe to do so.
What is the collarbone?
The collarbone is a long, thin bone between your breastbone (sternum) and your shoulder. It is also called the clavicle. You have two collarbones, one on each side of your breastbone. They help to keep your shoulders in line. You have been diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Follow your health care provider's instructions on how to care ...
What to do if your collarbone is aligned?
If the bones are: Aligned (meaning that the broken ends meet), the treatment is to wear a sling and relieve your symptoms. Casts are not used for broken collarbones. Not aligned (meaning the broken ends do not meet), you may need surgery.
How to tell if you have a broken collarbone?
Symptoms of a mild broken collarbone include: Pain where the broken bone is. Having a hard time moving your shoulder or arm, and pain when you do move them. A shoulder that seems to be sagging. A cracking or grinding noise when you raise your arm. Bruising, swelling, or bulging over your collarbone. Signs of a more serious break are:
How long should I ice my swollen thighs?
After the first day, ice the area every 3 to 4 hours for 20 minutes each time. Do this for 2 days or longer. For pain, you can use ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can buy these pain medicines at the store.
What does it mean when your arm is numb?
Your arm is numb or has a pins and needles feeling. You have pain that does not go away with pain medicine. Your fingers look pale, blue, black, or white. It is hard to move the fingers of your affected arm. Your shoulder looks deformed and the bone is coming out of the skin.
How to make ice pack for a sprain?
Make an ice pack by putting ice in a zip lock plastic bag and wrapping a cloth around it. Do not put the bag of ice directly on your skin. This could injure your skin. On the first day of your injury, apply the ice for 20 minutes of every hour while awake.
Early Recovery
Stretching Exercises
Strengthening Exercises
Considerations