Fractures – Rehabilitation and Recovery After a Broken Bone
A fracture is a broken bone, and after treatment by a doctor and removal of the immobilisation it often leaves stiffness and weakness. Rehabilitation helps you regain mobility and strength and return to daily life more safely.
What a fracture is
A fracture is a complete or partial break in a bone. It is most often the result of a fall, a blow or a sports injury, and in weaker bone, for example with osteoporosis, it can happen with less force. The diagnosis and treatment, either immobilisation or surgery, are decided by a doctor.
While the bone heals, the joints and muscles around it are often kept still. After the cast or splint comes off, this leads to stiffness, swelling, weaker muscles and sometimes a fear of loading the limb.
Bone usually heals within weeks to months, and with suitable rehabilitation most people regain a good deal of mobility and strength. The timeline depends on the bone, the type of fracture and general health, and loading follows your doctor’s instructions.
Why rehabilitation matters
- restoring mobility in the joints near the fracture
- rebuilding the strength of weakened muscles
- controlling swelling and pain after immobilisation
- improving balance and confidence when loading
- a safe return to walking, work and sport
- lowering the risk of lasting stiffness
What is normal after the immobilisation comes off
- stiffness in the nearby joints
- swelling that increases with load
- weakness and reduced size of the muscles
- pain with movement and loading
- sensitivity of the skin and scar
- limited mobility and quick tiredness
How we can help
We begin rehabilitation once your treating doctor allows it and in line with their loading instructions. After a thorough assessment we combine manual therapy, therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise for mobility and strength, and methods such as electrotherapy, laser, magnet and Normatec compression to control swelling and pain. If warning signs appear or healing is slow, we will refer you to a specialist. Home rehabilitation with 60-minute individual sessions is also available.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for new severe pain or a sudden increase in pain, swelling and redness, fever, redness or discharge from a wound, calf pain and swelling (a possible clot), blue or numb fingers or toes, and for sudden chest pain or breathlessness. Also seek advice if healing does not progress as expected or you notice a new deformity.
This page is for information only and does not replace an assessment by a specialist.