Physical Therapy for a Femur Fracture
One of the thickest bones in the body, the femur requires a tremendous amount of force to break. The complications that may occur following a femur fracture could make it challenging for someone to return to work or school. Some of the noteable statistics regarding femur fractures that have been published by Medscape include:
- About 20 out of every 100,000 individuals suffers a femoral shaft fracture every year
- Annually about 250 out of every 100,000 people will sustain a proximal fracture of the femur
- The number of femur fractures suffered by people in the United States is expected to double in the next three decades
These numbers show that femur fractures are serious and require the attention of a trained medical professional. Once the cast has been removed, the recovery process is far from over. Physical therapy for a femur fracture is almost always necessary to help someone complete the recovery process.
Recovering Strength Through Physical Therapy
One of the first jobs of physical therapy is to help people rebuild the muscle strength in their leg that could have been lost. When the muscle spends a significant amount of time in a cast, it is not used. As a result, the muscle tends to atrophy. It is critical to rebuild this strength so that the muscle can support the bone as it finishes the healing process.
Building Flexibility After a Fractured Femur
After this, physical therapy is also needed to help people increase the flexibility in their leg. Not only does the muscle lose its strength while it is in a cast, but the tendons also cannot stretch as far. This makes the muscle prone to tearing. Therefore, physical therapy will help to gradually increase the flexibility of the muscle.
Improving Range of Motion Following a Bone Fracture
Lastly, physical therapy can also help people restore the range of motion that has been lost following a bone fracture, such as a femur fracture. Those who have broken a bone before know the stiffness that arises when the cast is removed. Gradually, physical therapy can help someone regain their range of motion. Initially, people may have trouble walking; however, many people make a full recovery following a femur fracture and can even participate in competitive sports again.
Contacting a Personal Injury Law Firm
When a loved one has suffered a serious injury, such as a femur fracture, the recovery process can be confusing. Many times, this leads to more questions than answers. Some of the questions that family members could have are:
- Is my loved one going to make a full recovery?
- How did this injury occur?
- Could this be related to a car accident or motorcycle accident in the past?
- How can we get coverage for our medical costs?
- Is there anyone who can help us answer these questions?
It is understandable for families to have questions about this confusing process. Without expert legal counsel, this is a tough path to walk down. For this reason, it is advisable to meet with a personal injury attorney in Sacramento. You and your family could be deserving of financial compensation.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. A femur fracture is always a serious injury and the recovery process can be challenging. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I am a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
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Physical Therapy for a Femur Fracture: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The image at the top of this page is found in its original form at Unsplash.com. The image has been reproduced here with permission/Physical Therapy for a Femur Fracture.
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