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Rehabilitation
for Elbow Fractures
Strengthening
exercises
Alternative
exercises
Rehabilitation
after surgery
How
long will the effects of my injury last?
When
can I return to my sport or activity?
Read more about Elbow Fractures
Rehabilitation for Elbow Fractures
As an athlete, your number one concern is getting back to full strength
as soon as possible so that you can return to training and competition.
That is why appropriate rehabilitation is extremely important.
The major objectives
of rehabilitation from an elbow fracture, once it's healed, are to improve
the elasticity of the elbow joint and to gradually increase pain-free
range of motion. The exercises below stretch the muscles of the forearm
and upper arm. These exercises should be performed once or twice daily.
Exercises include:
- Wrist flexor stretch
Extend affected arm forward with palm up and elbow straight. Place fingers
and palm of opposite hand across palm and fingers of the extended hand
and draw back with it until stretch is felt in the forearm. Hold this
position for 3 to 5 seconds then relax for 3 to 5 seconds. Perform this
exercise 10 times.
- Wrist extensor
stretch
Extend affected arm forward with palm down, elbow straight, and fingers
slightly curled. Grasp the affected side hand with other hand and draw
affected side hand down until stretch is felt in the forearm. Hold this
position from 3 to 5 seconds then relax for 3 to 5 seconds. Perform
this exercise 10 times.
- Pronation/Suppination
stretch
Extend affected arm forward in a hand-shaking position with palm facing
up. Slowly rotate the hand from a palm-up position to a palm-down position.
Hold for 3 to 5 seconds and then rotate back. Perform this exercise
10 times. When you work your way up to strength training, you may use
a small weight while rotating the hand and wrist.
- Tricep stretch
Stand erect with feet at about shoulder width. Raise injured arm at
the shoulder with elbow bent and place the forearm behind the head.
Grasp the injured elbow with opposite hand and draw it toward the center
of the body until stretch is felt. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds
then relax for 3 to 5 seconds. Perform this exercise 10 times.
- Bicep stretch
Stand erect with arms raised to shoulder height and palms up. Press
arms backward until stretch is felt. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds,
then relax for 3 to 5 seconds. Perform this exercise 10 times. The bicep
is stretched by this exercise as well as the muscles of the shoulder
and upper chest.
Strengthening exercises
The following exercises develop strength of the muscles of the forearm
and upper arm. To maintain symmetry of the arms in terms of strength and
appearance, perform these strength exercises with the uninjured arm as
well as the injured arm.
- Wrist extension
Sit in a chair with forearm resting on the end of a table, palm down.
Grasp a light weight dumbbell and raise the weight up as high as possible
while maintaining contact with the table top. Hold this position for
3 to 5 seconds. Relax for 3 to 5 seconds. Repeat this exercise 5 to
10 times. Substitute a heavier dumbbell as strength increases.
- Arm curls
Either standing or sitting, grasp a two- to four-pound dumbbell in one
hand. With palm up, flex elbow and draw the dumbbell up to the same
side shoulder while maintaining erect posture. Do not bend at the waist
or swing the dumbbell. Lower dumbbell slowly and with control to the
starting position. Repeat this exercise 10 times. Use a heavier dumbbell
as strength increases.
Alternative exercises
During the period when normal training should be avoided, alternative
exercises may be used. These activities should not require any actions
that create or intensify pain at the site of injury. They include:
Rehabilitation
after surgery
Keep in mind that if your elbow fracture requires surgery, the soft tissue
needs time to heal before exercise can begin. While in the hospital, patients
start partial weight bearing with exercises to re-establish elbow joint
mobility. In these cases, you would be required to wear a splint or cast
for eight to ten weeks.
A physical therapy
program usually begins with range-of-motion and resistive exercises, then
incorporates power, aerobic and muscular endurance, flexibility, and coordination
drills.
Finally, patients
develop speed and agility through sport-specific exercise routines.
The ultimate goal
of reconstructive elbow surgery is to provide dynamic stability while
maintaining full range of motion, so that athletes can return to competitive
or recreational sports. Progress is assessed by the patient's perception
of how stable the elbow feels and by comparing the strength and stability
of the injured and uninjured arms.
How long will the
effects of my injury last?
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity
as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your
injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Everyone recovers from injury
at a different rate. Return to your activity is determined by how soon
your elbow fracture recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been
since your injury occurred. It also depends on how serious the injury
is. Instances where reconstructive surgery is required will obviously
create a longer recovery period than patients with a Type I fracture.
A good rule is to
allow pain to dictate when you're ready to return to activity. You should
return in moderation, and back off if you feel any pain.
You may safely return
to your sport or activity when the bones have fully healed and you have
full strength and range of motion in the injured elbow compared to the
uninjured elbow.
When can I return
to my sport or activity?
Some may be ready for full participation in six weeks, others not for
two months or more. Of course, time for return to activity is much longer
if surgery is necessary.
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