Assisting Bone Fracture Healing

Bone fracture is a common problem. Usually a bone breaks as a result of an accident, a fall, or a physical impact. Your body has a marvelous self-repairing system capable of restoring this serious damage and “welding” the bones together. Even if your body is otherwise healthy and can focus only on healing the fracture, recovery still requires 2–3 months. If other problems or illnesses also burden your body, it must spend energy on those as well, and therefore fracture healing—especially in open fractures—may be prolonged or even fail. If you want to support and speed up bone healing, use pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy every day after a fracture. It has been proven that PEMF improves blood circulation and stimulates bone-forming cells. This accelerates callus (new bone) formation.

Symptoms of a bone fracture

The symptoms of a bone fracture are usually quite clear. A fracture causes sharp, burning pain and swelling, and a hematoma may be observed. The shape of the affected area, body part, or limb may change; in extreme cases an open fracture occurs when the broken bone ends pierce the skin and are visible. The affected limb may be painful or not moveable at all.

Diagnosis of a fracture and initial pain relief

Although the symptoms are obvious, an X-ray is always necessary to determine the state of the fracture and whether the broken bone ends have shifted apart. This decides whether immobilization is sufficient or surgery is required.

The acute pain from the fracture can be eased with medication, icing and TENS or MENS treatment.

Healing time for bone fractures

Generally, the healing time required for a bone fracture (a minimum of 6–8 non-weight-bearing weeks) is shorter the younger the patient. Healing is faster if there is only a single fracture line and the bone fragments have not moved or have moved only minimally. Healing time generally increases with the severity of the fracture. Open fractures carry additional risks, such as contamination of the bone that can lead to infection.

Causes of delayed fracture healing

Bone healing (ossification) can proceed properly only if the fractured bones are immobilized (with a cast or modern plastic immobilization). Immobilization makes movement more difficult, but it prevents the broken bone parts from moving even if you put weight on them.

Often the immobilization is inadequate and the bones shift with every step, preventing proper bone formation. This is called delayed union. Persistent pain may be the consequence.

In cases of bone fractures I recommend asking for proper immobilization. Although uncomfortable, it ensures the formation of strong bone.

Treatment of bone fractures

During immobilization with a plaster cast or newer, lighter materials, the broken bone is fixed in its original position until it heals. The immobilization must be applied so that it covers the fractured area and the joint above and below it, preventing even small movements of the fracture ends. Only then can ossification begin in the fracture.

You can start magnetotherapy on the injured area immediately after immobilization!

Several studies have investigated the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on fracture healing. Patients treated with magnetic field therapy show earlier bone union than those who did not receive treatment. Because of the research into magnetism and its effects on bone healing and its therapeutic results, Robert O. Becker, a bone surgeon at the State University of New York, was honored with numerous professional awards.

Magnetotherapy:

• improves microcirculation (blood flow) in tissues
• improves and makes cell metabolism more efficient
• accelerates the removal and clearance of metabolic waste products
• enhances the build-up of new bone tissue and the incorporation of calcium
• significantly increases proteoglycan levels in cartilage tissue

The result is faster healing and the formation of stronger new bone. Therefore it is worthwhile to start bone-building treatment as early as possible and continue it for a long period. Daily treatment is optimal. Place the treatment coil directly over the injured area. The magnetic field penetrates the cast as well, so you can begin treatments immediately after the fracture is immobilized; you do not need to wait until the cast is removed!

One common finding in studies evaluating the effect is the patients’ favorable opinion of the treatment. A large proportion of patients (more than 80%) reported a positive feeling about the treatment even when no measurable change in bone structure was observed.

Magnetotherapy can be used not only to treat fractures, but also to accelerate healing of non-unions (false joints), to strengthen loosened prostheses and to improve the integration and fixation of new prostheses.

In the case of fractures you can safely and effectively support healing without side effects using PEMF devices. Moreover, you can do this at home, comfortably and in a calm environment. In Western physiotherapy practice, magnetotherapy is always part of the comprehensive treatment of diseases affecting bones or joints!

Devices suitable for treating bone fractures include: Magnum L | Magnum XL | Magnum XL Pro | Magnum 2500 | Magnum 3000 Pro | Magnum 3500 Pro

Further physiotherapy options

Rehabilitation after a fracture is of great importance. Its purpose is to restore the original condition and function as quickly as possible. It is in your own interest to take it seriously and to actively participate!

Yes! This is your task! No one else can do it for you.

Immobilization (cast) after a fracture is essential for healing. However, immobilization is an “abnormal” state: it prevents movement of the joints around the fracture as well as the muscles. Due to immobilization, muscles atrophy; the diameter and strength of muscle fibers decrease rapidly. The reduction in size can already reach a noticeable level within 4–6 weeks. In addition, the ligaments of the immobilized joint can stiffen and become “tight.”

As a result, after the immobilization is removed you may be surprised to find that although you were declared healed, your muscles are barely strong enough and your joint movements are restricted. You cannot perform movements as you did before.

Alongside physiotherapy, you can use several physiotherapeutic devices (even during fracture healing) to maintain and improve the condition of ligaments and muscles.

Muscle stimulator

A muscle stimulator device produces muscle contractions with electrical impulses while the joint does not move. Therefore you can even use it while in a cast (of course not on muscles covered by the cast). This helps to reduce muscle atrophy and loss of strength.

You can find a suitable device by clicking here

Therapeutic ultrasound

This treatment can only be applied after the cast has been removed. It helps loosen stiffened ligaments and tendons and restore joint range of motion. It has no direct effect on muscle mass, so it is truly effective when combined with muscle stimulation and physiotherapy exercises.

The M-Sonic 950 device may be suitable for this purpose.