How Long to Continue Physical Therapy After Tibia Fracture

How Long Does It Take for a Tibia Fracture to Heal?

Recovery time for a fractured tibia varies depending on the fracture pattern and type of treatment your surgeon uses. Most fractures heal completely in three to six months.

Wearing a Cast, Boot or Splint

Most patients initially wear a splint or half cast as the initial swelling subsides. Most patients then transition to a cast to hold the break in place while the bone heals.

Keep your leg elevated at the level of your heart, which will help reduce pain and swelling. You may find the cast feels itchy at first, but as tempting as it is don't stick anything in the splint to scratch because even small abrasions can cause irritation or infections.

Splints and casts should be kept clean and dry, so you'll need to protect them with a specialized cast bag when you shower. Some people use a plastic bag tied tightly around the cast. Be cautious because either method can leak.

Once your cast is removed, you may be given a special walking boot that will support your leg as you slowly begin to bear weight again. Your health professional will show you how to adjust the boot so that it fits correctly. The benefit of the boot is that it can be removed when you are resting and washing. Each physician will have specific instructions on how much to wear the boot and how much weight to place on the foot. Always follow your physician's instructions.

Physical Therapy for a Fractured Tibia

Physical therapy can play an important role in your recovery from a fractured tibia. Your physical therapist may prescribe gentle exercises during the initial non-weight bearing phase to help reduce stiffness, strengthen the surrounding muscles, and prevent atrophy.

Once your physician allows you to start bearing weight again, your physical therapist will initiate exercises to build up strength and regain balance control. Muscle atrophies or shrinks shortly after an injury and even following a very brief period of non-weight bearing activity. Thus, restoring normal muscle function is paramount to returning to normal walking and daily activities.

Can You Walk With a Fractured Tibia?

Unless you have a minor stress fracture, your physician will likely ask you to stay off your injured leg completely for your initial phase of recovery. This non-weight bearing period is an extremely frustrating but necessary part of the recovery process. Any attempt to put weight on your injured leg before it's ready, however, could prevent the bone from healing and may make the injury worse.

In order to comply with this important recovery phase, you'll need to use a mobility aid such as crutches, a wheelchair, knee scooter, or the iWALK hands-free crutch.

Crutches

Traditional crutches are easy to find and inexpensive making them the first thing people usually try after surgery. However, crutches can be exhausting and cause pain in the underarms, forearms and wrists. They also restrict numerous day-to-day activities because you can't carry anything, meaning activities like showering, grooming and eating are more challenging. Most patients find crutches so uncomfortable, however, that they cheat during the non-weight bearing phase of their recovery and walk on the injured leg before it's healed. This can cause additional injury or slow the recovery.

Knee Scooters or Knee Walkers

Knee scooters, also referred to as knee walkers, are more efficient than crutches and require less upper body strength. They enable users to scoot easily from point A to point B without getting exhausted as long as they're being used on flat surfaces. Their overall use is fairly limited, however, because they don't work on stairs, slopes or uneven terrain. They also require use of your hands, so you can't carry things. Finally, they are bulky which makes them difficult to transport.

Because knee scooters require you to rest your lower leg on a padded platform, they may not work for tibia fractures that occur in the upper part of the lower leg.

iWALK Hands-Free Crutch

The iWALK hands-free crutch facilitates unaided walking with full use of your hands and arms. It functions like a temporary lower leg so you can go about daily life while your injured leg remains safely and securely elevated. You can use the iWALK on stairs, slopes, uneven terrain and in the shower, and it makes everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning and carrying things around the house a breeze.

A 2019 medical study [2] found that nine out of 10 patients prefer the iWALK to traditional crutches. They reported less pain, less exhaustion, and less shortness of breath while using the iWALK. Another recent study [3] found that the iWALK simulates normal walking in a way that engages upper and lower leg muscles while immobilizing the lower leg and foot. This boosts blood flow in the immobilized extremity, which speeds recovery time. Engaging lower leg muscles while using the iWALK also avoids muscle atrophy that's unavoidable using traditional crutches or knee scooters.

As with knee scooters, the iWALK requires you to rest your lower leg on a padded platform and may not work for fibula fractures that occur in the upper part of the lower leg.

Tibia Fracture Frequently Asked Questions

Can you still walk with a fractured tibia?

In most cases, the answer is no. Walking after a tibia fracture can make your injury worse and may cause further damage to the surrounding muscles, ligaments and skin. Walking on a fractured tibia is also likely to be extremely painful. If you suspect you might have broken your leg, don't walk on it until you've seen a doctor. If you do have a broken tibia, you'll probably need to be non-weight bearing which means you'll need crutches, a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or hands-free crutch to get around. However, if you only have a minor stress fracture you may still be able to walk. Always consult with your doctor or surgeon before walking on a tibia fracture.

How long does it take for a tibia fracture to heal?

In most cases, the recovery time for a fractured tibia is six to 10 weeks, but recovery time will vary considerably depending on the patient and severity of the fracture. You may experience swelling for up to a year afterward. Minor stress fractures may take less time, and severe breaks may take more.

Can a tibia fracture heal on its own?

A fractured tibia doesn't always require surgery, but it won't heal properly on its own, either. Leaving it to heal on its own is risky and can leave the leg angulated and in chronic pain. A physician should treat and supervise a fractured tibia, and they will probably prescribe immobilization with a cast, splint or special boot and not putting any weight on it to ensure proper healing.

How long do you wear a cast for a broken tibia?

The length of time you need to wear a cast for a broken tibia depends on how severe your injury is, but it will likely be at least six weeks. Your doctor will probably prescribe use of a walking boot for a few additional weeks. The boot will support your leg as you slowly start to bear weight again.

How do you help someone with a broken leg?

If you suspect someone has broken their leg, seek medical help as soon as possible. If they're unable to get to the Emergency Room, you may need to call an ambulance.

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Source: https://iwalk-free.com/injury-resource-center/tibia-fractures/