Clavicle fracture is a type of bone injury which can have a treatment period of more than a year in order for the patient to fully recover. Given the best treatment, cooperation, coordination and everything that can speed up the healing and recovery process, it is among the types of injuries that would put an athlete or any regular guy on the sideline for a long period of time. With these types of damages to the bone, all you need to do is to take your time immobilizing the affected part of the body in order to fully recover and prevent reoccurrence of the fracture.
The collar bone usually gets fractured on contact sports such as rugby, football, mixed martial arts, or on events where the athlete falls on his or her shoulder which in return would break or chip this part of the skeletal system. Aside from sports, car accidents can also contribute to the acquisition of this type of bone injury.
A person who has been diagnosed with clavicle fracture should consider taking immediate medical action in order to shorten the recovery period. There are lots of different types of treatment methods that the doctor can recommend each patient depending on the findings from the x-ray as well as from the specific physical examinations. The x-ray machine is very effective in confirming the bone injury which will erase the doubts of both the patient and the doctor.
The first thing that the doctor would suggest or recommend would be the immediate immobilization of the arm which in most cases is bandaged, cuffed, casted or secured with proper methods in order to prevent movement. This is very essential when it comes to controlling possible damages to the collar bone which are commonly the results from any attempt of motion. In general, the immobilization period would last for 2 weeks or more depending on the progress of the injury or the assessment of the doctor. During these times, the doctor would recommend an anti-inflammatory and pain relievers to alleviate the painful situation of the patient. It also helps in controlling the swelling of the affected area.
Stretching and strengthening exercises will soon be conducted right at the absence of pain and discomfort. Never attempt to move (especially to stretch) your arm without the go signal of your doctor as this can be very risky and dangerous. Gradual stretching of the arm should be done regularly to avoid reoccurrence of the injury. It is also beneficial in building muscle mass which will help a lot in the strengthening exercises. Keep in mind that what you are doing is for recovery purposes and that you are not exercising for a competition. Be kind to your body especially during this time that it is recovering from the injury. A few minutes a day will be enough to stretch and strengthen the muscles that have been immobilized for several weeks or months depending on your progress. Discuss with your doctor any discomfort that you feel during these programs as it will help a lot with your rehabilitation.
