Physical therapy is commonly pursued after an elbowfracture. This can help speed healing and restore therange of motionof the elbow joint. It also improves the strength and mobility of not only your elbow but your arm, shoulder, or wrist as well.
Physical therapy can go a long way toward preventing the loss of joint mobility that can affect your work and ability to perform daily tasks.
This article discusses the goals of physical therapy for a broken elbow and which types of exercises you can expect to do during your recovery.
Verywell / Mira Norian
Signs and Symptoms of an Elbow Fracture
Why You May Need Physical Therapy
The most common cause of an elbow fracture is trauma to your arm near your elbow. This can happen after a fall on your elbow or outstretched arm, or during a car crash or sports-related accident. These injuries tend to happen suddenly.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
A blunt force impact can fracture one of the following bones:
Compound fracturesand dislocations can also occur. A fracture with dislocation is especially problematic, causing long-term pain and stiffness. Moreover, many people will develop excessive bone growth (calledossification) and a loss of joint mobility.
While your elbow heals, it is important to keep it from getting too stiff or weak. This is why you should work with a physical therapist early on while you are still wearing a brace or sling.
What Happens After an Elbow Is Fractured
If the fracture is severe, your surgeon may recommend anopen reduction internal fixation (ORIF). During this surgical procedure, the bones are manually realigned. Screws, plates, or wires are inserted to hold the bones in place.
After your elbow fracture is reduced, you may need to wear a brace or a sling. Occasionally, an elbow fracture will be put in a cast.
With that said, immobilizing an elbow fracture can be extremely risky. This is because it may lead to severe stiffness and a permanent loss of joint mobility.
1:37Click Play to Learn About Elbow Fracture Treatment Options
1:37
Click Play to Learn About Elbow Fracture Treatment Options
Physical Therapy for Elbow Fractures
A major problem with an elbow fracture is stiffness that limits the range of motion. Sometimes, this stiffness persists long after the bones have healed. To prevent this, your healthcare provider may have you startphysical therapysoon after the injury.
Your physical therapist will work with you to help you regain normal use of your elbow and arm. They may use many differentphysical therapy treatmentsto help you quickly return to normal activity.
Range of Motion Exercises
One of the main goals of physical therapy after an elbow fracture is to restore the normalrange of motion (ROM). The elbow is a complex joint that allows you to bend your arm or turn your hand over. To regain normal use of your arm, you need full ROM of the elbow and forearm.
As a rule, the early introduction of ROM therapy achieves better and faster results. A 2016 study found that even people over 65 who started ROM exercises soon after immobilization required fewer days of therapy. Those who delayed physical therapy needed 17 days of therapy versus 6.5 days for those who started early.
If your ROM loss is severe, your physical therapist may have you wear a dynamic splint. This is a spring-loaded splint worn throughout the day. It provides a low-load stretch to your elbow joint to help improve your ROM. The splint can be used to improve the bending and straightening of your elbow.
Four ROM exercises are commonly used in people with elbow fractures:
Elbow Range of Motion Exercises
Strength Exercises
After an elbow fracture, pain and swelling in your elbow may keep you from using your arm. Wearing a sling can also limit the use of your elbow, wrist, and hand.
If you have had an ORIF, the muscles around the surgical incision may need time to heal. This period of disuse may cause a significant loss of strength around your elbow, shoulder, wrist, and hand.
Your physical therapist can also teach you theproper way to wear your slingand can ensure it fits correctly. They can also prescribe exercises for your hand. Hand exercises can help ensure your grip strength returns to pre-injury levels.
Strengthening exercises after an elbow fracture may include:
Pain Management
After an elbow fracture, you may have swelling around your elbow. Your physical therapist can help you manage the pain and swelling withice applicationorelectrical stimulation (e-stim). Over-the-counternonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like Aleve (naproxen) or Advil (ibuprofen) can also help.
A case report found that joint mobilization andshortwave diathermycould help restore normal ROM. Shortwave diathermy uses electromagnetic radio waves to convert energy to deep heat.
Scar Tissue Management
If you have had an ORIF, your physical therapist can help you manage any scar tissues that may have formed.Scar tissue massageand mobilization can help improve scar mobility and prevent the retraction (tightening) of tissues. Your therapist can also teach you self-massage techniques.
Scar Tissue Management in Physical Therapy
Ongoing Care
Most people should be able to return to normal activities within four months. For some, full healing can take up to a year. It’s common to still have a mild loss of mobility after this time. That’s why it’s important to continue the range of motion and strength exercises that you learned in physical therapy.
Keep going with your home exercise program after you’ve finished physical therapy. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about the expected outcomes for your specific case.
Summary
If not properly cared for, an elbow fracture can lead to loss of mobility. This is why it’s important to work with a physical therapist early on. Your physical therapist can teach you the right exercises to help you strengthen your elbow and shoulder and regain normal use of your arm.
A Word From VerywellPhysical therapy is an important step in recovery from an elbow fracture. Often, elbow fractures are immobilized, which leads to stiffness and weakness at the joint. Mobilizing this joint early with physical therapy can help to restore full function in your arm.—LAURA CAMPEDELLI, DPT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Physical therapy is an important step in recovery from an elbow fracture. Often, elbow fractures are immobilized, which leads to stiffness and weakness at the joint. Mobilizing this joint early with physical therapy can help to restore full function in your arm.—LAURA CAMPEDELLI, DPT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Physical therapy is an important step in recovery from an elbow fracture. Often, elbow fractures are immobilized, which leads to stiffness and weakness at the joint. Mobilizing this joint early with physical therapy can help to restore full function in your arm.
—LAURA CAMPEDELLI, DPT, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing shoulder & elbow fractures.Shukla DR, Pillai G, McAnany S, Hausman M, Parsons BO.Heterotopic ossification formation after fracture-dislocations of the elbow.J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015;24(3):333-8. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.11.037John Hopkins Medicine.Elbow fracture open reduction and internal fixation.Jones V.Conservative management of the post-traumatic stiff elbow: a physiotherapist’s perspective.Shoulder Elbow. 2016;8(2):134–141. doi:10.1177/1758573216633065Draper DO, Veazey E.Pulsed shortwave diathermy and joint mobilizations restore a twice-fractured elbow with metal implants to full range of motion.J Nov Physiother Rehabil. 2017;1:020-026. doi:10.29328/journal.jnpr.1001003Karwacińska J, Kiebzak W, Stepanek-Finda B, et al.Effectiveness of Kinesio taping on hypertrophic scars, keloids, and scar contractures.Polish Ann Med.2012;19 (1):50-7. doi:10.1016/j.poamed.2012.04.010American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Elbow (olecranon) fractures.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing shoulder & elbow fractures.Shukla DR, Pillai G, McAnany S, Hausman M, Parsons BO.Heterotopic ossification formation after fracture-dislocations of the elbow.J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015;24(3):333-8. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.11.037John Hopkins Medicine.Elbow fracture open reduction and internal fixation.Jones V.Conservative management of the post-traumatic stiff elbow: a physiotherapist’s perspective.Shoulder Elbow. 2016;8(2):134–141. doi:10.1177/1758573216633065Draper DO, Veazey E.Pulsed shortwave diathermy and joint mobilizations restore a twice-fractured elbow with metal implants to full range of motion.J Nov Physiother Rehabil. 2017;1:020-026. doi:10.29328/journal.jnpr.1001003Karwacińska J, Kiebzak W, Stepanek-Finda B, et al.Effectiveness of Kinesio taping on hypertrophic scars, keloids, and scar contractures.Polish Ann Med.2012;19 (1):50-7. doi:10.1016/j.poamed.2012.04.010American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Elbow (olecranon) fractures.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing shoulder & elbow fractures.Shukla DR, Pillai G, McAnany S, Hausman M, Parsons BO.Heterotopic ossification formation after fracture-dislocations of the elbow.J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015;24(3):333-8. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.11.037John Hopkins Medicine.Elbow fracture open reduction and internal fixation.Jones V.Conservative management of the post-traumatic stiff elbow: a physiotherapist’s perspective.Shoulder Elbow. 2016;8(2):134–141. doi:10.1177/1758573216633065Draper DO, Veazey E.Pulsed shortwave diathermy and joint mobilizations restore a twice-fractured elbow with metal implants to full range of motion.J Nov Physiother Rehabil. 2017;1:020-026. doi:10.29328/journal.jnpr.1001003Karwacińska J, Kiebzak W, Stepanek-Finda B, et al.Effectiveness of Kinesio taping on hypertrophic scars, keloids, and scar contractures.Polish Ann Med.2012;19 (1):50-7. doi:10.1016/j.poamed.2012.04.010American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Elbow (olecranon) fractures.
NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing shoulder & elbow fractures.
Shukla DR, Pillai G, McAnany S, Hausman M, Parsons BO.Heterotopic ossification formation after fracture-dislocations of the elbow.J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015;24(3):333-8. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.11.037
John Hopkins Medicine.Elbow fracture open reduction and internal fixation.
Jones V.Conservative management of the post-traumatic stiff elbow: a physiotherapist’s perspective.Shoulder Elbow. 2016;8(2):134–141. doi:10.1177/1758573216633065
Draper DO, Veazey E.Pulsed shortwave diathermy and joint mobilizations restore a twice-fractured elbow with metal implants to full range of motion.J Nov Physiother Rehabil. 2017;1:020-026. doi:10.29328/journal.jnpr.1001003
Karwacińska J, Kiebzak W, Stepanek-Finda B, et al.Effectiveness of Kinesio taping on hypertrophic scars, keloids, and scar contractures.Polish Ann Med.2012;19 (1):50-7. doi:10.1016/j.poamed.2012.04.010
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Elbow (olecranon) fractures.
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