Hip fractures occur when the femur, alternatively called the thigh bone, partially or wholly breaks at the point where it meets the pelvic bone. While it is a nightmare everyone dreads, it could happen to anyone. Since it is severe, you’ll need instant medical attention and subsequent therapy at a rehab. The following are insights into the services you expect from the rehab center after this hip fracture.
Radiology
Radiology has proven essential in rehabilitating hip fractures. This medical imaging technology could be either diagnostic or interventional, depending on the stage of treatment. Experts like W-radiology will use this imaging technique to locate or diagnose joint dislocations and fractured bones.
This technology is vital in assessing the bone position, particularly after a hip fracture or dislocation treatment. It requires two or more views for more accurate readings. With enhanced precision, it becomes easier to identify the best therapy or treatment to embrace at the rehabilitation center.
In addition, this imaging technique could help demonstrate proper alignment and the stabilization of bony fragments. Medical experts rely on it to guide them during orthopedic surgery, including repairing spines, replacing joints, and reducing fractures.
Rehab experts use radiology to eliminate the need for exploratory surgery and determine the patient’s health. It could also assist in the further management of the injury, particularly during the recovery phase. However, this will only suffice when used accordingly.
Weight-Bearing Exercises
Weight-bearing exercises could help speed up your hip fracture recovery at the rehab. Physical therapists often personalize it to suit your needs and the stage of your recovery. A customized approach guarantees minimal strain, pain, or discomfort.
These weight-bearing exercises often involve aerobic activities, including low-impact aerobics, elliptical training machines, stair-climbing, and gardening.
Swimming and cycling are the most common choices. However, they do not exert a weight-bearing load on your hip. Instead, they aim to strengthen your bones, guaranteeing faster healing or recovery. Besides, you can combine more than two exercises at once, depending on how comfortable you are.
These exercises often directly impact your hips, bones, and lower spine. You can also rely on them for various cardiovascular benefits, which could be central to excellent blood and oxygen supply to the injured spot. The preferred exercise must also promote slow mineral loss.
Yet, you must refrain from high-impact exercises at this stage. High-impact activities include running, jogging, and jogging. Any rapid or jerky movements will likely disrupt the recovery process. You can only consider them once you are confident that the hip is fully healed.
Flexibility and Mobility Exercises
A hip injury or fracture curtails your mobility and flexibility. After treatment, this problem could even worsen, thanks to pain and discomfort. You must engage in impactful flexibility and mobility exercises to address this issue.
Flexibility and mobility exercises promote better movement, including walking, swimming, and cycling. They stretch your muscles to ensure the body remains flexible and comfortable. While they might not improve your endurance or strength, they give your muscles enough energy to move.
Various exercises come in handy in increasing your flexibility and mobility. You could consider lunges, straddle exercises, and stretches. An expert will indicate when to move from one activity to another, limiting unwanted injuries or discomfort in the long run.
However, you must avoid stretches that could flex your spine or cause you to bend or twist your hip. Indulging in these exercises could increase the risk of compression fractures, resulting in unwanted discomfort and medical expenses.
Strength Training
Strength training is vital for anyone recovering from a hip fracture or dislocation. It is central to enhancing muscular contraction, gradually building strength, and anaerobic resistance. You could also rely on it to boost the size of your skeletal muscles.
This training is structured to boost endurance and strength, often through lifting weights. Since this is a hip injury, you will likely use your feet to lift weights from time to time. With dedication and repetition, you are confident of exceptional results in the long run.
There are four primary forms of strength training, focusing on particular results. These options include muscle power, strength, hypertrophy, and endurance training. Usually, you will perfect one area before proceeding to the next. It is the only way to guarantee faster recovery.
Strength training improves your recovery journey by increasing muscle mass and bone density. It ensures enough mass to protect your bones and increase bone density, ensuring the hip joint forms sooner. In addition, it reduces the risk of subsequent injury.
Balance and Poise
You might need to relearn how to maintain a perfect balance after a hip injury. Various exercises could help achieve this goal. Notable choices include weight adjustment, gym ball, walking, and standing on one leg.
The key to building perfect balance is repetition. You must learn to step up and down or move across balancing boards repetitively and in a controlled environment. This choice assures you better stability and minimal exposure to injuries and discomfort.
While a hip injury is a nightmare, it does not spell doom. Investing in the exercises above will help ensure that you recover soon. Fortunately, experts in rehab institutions will guide you best.