Fractures and Stress Fracture Treatments in Kansas City
Fractures can happen to anyone and can require a variety of treatments depending on the specific type and circumstances surrounding the fracture.
Fractures come in many different shapes and sizes. Most often they are referred to as a “broken” or “cracked” bone. Fractures can occur from an impact injury or fall, weakened bones from pathology such as osteoporosis or other disease, or repetitive stress on a specific bone in the body. Stress fractures are common with repetitive type injuries and are most often treated conservatively using physical therapy.
Symptoms of
Fractures
Symptoms of a fracture include pain at the site of injury, inability to move the affected area and immediate swelling following injury. With a stress fracture, symptoms can include a dull ache that is very focal to the specific site of the stress fracture with tenderness over the area.
Consult a Doctor if the Following Occurs:
Seek medical care as soon as possible if you have these symptoms and suspect you have a fracture. If a bone is exposed through the skin, call 911 immediately. Stabilize the injury and keep injured limb in the same position to prevent further injury.
Pain and Symptoms may include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Angulation (when the area affected is bent unusually)
- Unable to bear weight through the specific area
- Loss of function in affected area
- Dizziness and feelings of sickness are possible
Treatments for Fractures
A fracture requires medical attention by an orthopedic doctor. An x-ray or other imaging may be required to determine the extent and location of the fracture. Larger fractures must be set in their normalized position to allow for proper healing. When a bone is set without surgery, it is referred to as a “closed reduction,” and when surgery is required it is referred to as an “open reduction.” Hardware may be required to properly set the bone, known as internal fixation. After the bone is set, a cast or brace is most often used to immobilize the bone to optimize the healing process.
Our Treatment Process
Following the removal of a cast, physical therapy treatment for a stress fracture in Kansas City at F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic utilizes multiple treatments to optimize your rehabilitation. We use A.R.T. to restore the proper motion, texture, and tightness to the muscles, fascia, ligaments, nerves, and tendons. This can help eliminate the patient’s pain and musculoskeletal dysfunction during the healing process. We also perform soft tissue mobilization, often using Graston, to maintain mobility of the tissue as well as prevent excessive scar tissue from forming at the incision site. In addition, utilizing joint mobilization can improve and maintain motion of the joint where the fracture occurred as well as motion at adjacent joints. We’ll guide you through strength training throughout your physical therapy for a stress fracture, utilizing a variety of exercises and techniques to regain strength in the joints surrounding the fracture. This can retrain proper movement patterns and prepare you for a return to activity.
Management of a stress fracture that does not require immobilization involves maintenance of range of motion, as well as non-weight-bearing, pain-free strengthening of the musculature surrounding the fracture to avoid muscular atrophy. Once the fracture is healed, we will utilize corrective exercises to improve functional movement patterns. Our physical therapists at F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic are trained to provide an individualized treatment plan post-fracture that will help you return to daily and sport specific activities and your optimal level.
Possible Treatments for Fractures
For other treatment options, check out our chiropractic services for stress fractures.
Active Release Technique
Active Release Technique (A.R.T) is one of the leading soft tissue therapies for the treatment of muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.
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Rehabilitation Exercises
Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Exercise that favors quality movements over quantity of reps is key to restoring proper function.
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Graston Technique
The physical therapy Graston technique is one of the leading instrument assisted soft tissue therapies for the treatment of muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions
What causes stress fractures?
Stress fractures are caused by an overuse issue where the bone is not able to adapt to the forces and stresses imposed on it. This can be due to increasing volume of training to quickly, improper shoe wear, improper movement patterns, or muscular imbalances. Stress fractures can also be due partly to nutritional deficiencies such as calcium or vitamin D deficiency. If you are dealing with multiple instances of stress fractures, it may be important to talk to your doctor about other systemic issues that may be contributing.
What are stress fracture symptoms?
Depending on the site of the stress fracture, you may experience different symptoms. The most common symptoms of a stress fracture include a deep ache, point tenderness to the area, possible swelling and/or redness around the stress fracture, and difficulty walking or participating in sports. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to contact F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic, or your primary care physician, to learn more about physical therapy stress fracture treatments in Kansas City.
Can physical therapy treat a stress fracture metatarsal?
Metatarsal stress fractures should be under the care of an orthopedist to track proper healing and return to activity. No physical therapy will “treat” a fracture, as the bone must go through a normal course of healing before reintroducing force through the bone. Once cleared by your physician, physical therapy will work with you to safely return you back to activity, and help prevent further stress fractures in the future. Physical therapy will help correct dysfunctions up the chain of movement that may have contributed to the stress fracture in the first place.
Would physical therapy work for a hairline fracture?
Physical therapy will not be able to help the hairline fracture heal. However, physical therapy can help with soft tissue therapy to decrease any tissue tightness and pain associated with the area of the fracture. Once healed, our physical therapists work with you to help strengthen the affected limb and get your full function back to normal.
Tell us about your pain.
Take a couple of minutes to tell us about your symptoms and pain areas. Prefer to chat over the phone? Call us for a free phone consultation.
Visit your local F.I.T. Physical Therapist
Meet the team at any of our 10 locations: Lee’s Summit, Crossroads, Blue Valley, Olathe, Liberty, Kansas City, Leawood, Paola. Overland Park & Shawnee.
