Most people do not need physical therapy for small fractures or broken hands although if the broken hand was severe enough then you may need physical therapy after the splint or cast is removed.
Most people who have a broken hand will return to work or sports activities in around 8 weeks to 12 weeks after the fracture.
Things not to do with a broken hand are moving your hand, avoiding straining your hand, do not do any lifting with the broken hand until it heals.
Limit Your Intake of Salt, Caffeine, Sweetened Beverages and Soda.
Sodium, sugary drinks and colas can rob your bones of calcium, slowing bone mending.
Caffeine also contains compounds that bind with calcium and prevent its absorption.
A fractured hand should be rested for at least 3 to 4 weeks to allow it to heal.
It's also normal for the fractured hand to have aches and discomfort beyond the 4 weeks but the pain and discomfort should go away.
The 5 stages of fracture healing are.
Five Stages of Healing a Fracture.
First stage: Hematoma formation.
Second stage: Development of fibrocartilaginous callus.
Third Stage: Development of bony calluses.
Fourth Stage: Bone remodeling.
Fifth Stage: Bone support and recovery.
The fastest a broken bone can heal is 6 to 8 weeks before it can be used again.
In young children the healing of broken bones can happen more quickly and may only take 3 to 5 weeks for the broken bone to heal.
Older adults who have broken a bone can take even longer as in 12 to 14 weeks or sometimes longer.
Most broken bones and fractures heal in 6-8 weeks, but this varies tremendously from bone to bone and in each person based on many of the factors discussed above.
Hand and wrist fractures often heal in 4-6 weeks whereas a tibia fracture may take 20 weeks or more.
The new bone forms within a few weeks of the injury, although complete healing can take longer.
Typically a fracture can heal within 6-8 weeks.
There are 3 phases of healing time with a fracture: The inflammatory phase begins when the injury occurs and lasts for a week or two.
Some ways to speed up the healing of a broken bone include.
Immobilization. Keeping the broken bone fragments in place is an essential factor in facilitating fast and safe healing.
Nutrition.
Avoid Smoking and Alcohol.
Physical Therapy.
When it comes to the most painful bones to break, the following three are considered particular painful injuries to suffer in an accident:
Femur.
Tailbone.
Ribs.
Ligaments, nerves and wounds in areas with more movement heal the slowest.
Injuries to these areas have a longer recovery time because of poor blood circulation and constant motion stress.
By 4-6 weeks your fractured bone will have healed but the bone will continue to strengthen for months to come.
Physiotherapy at this stage will focus on restoring the function of the damaged muscles, bones and joints to their previous level.
Your doctor may recommend increasing your daily intake of vitamin D, vitamin C, or calcium if blood tests indicate you have low levels of those nutrients.
This may help your bones produce new, healthy cells.
Foods rich in these nutrients include yogurt, leafy greens, and citrus fruit.