Fractures present in different forms and varying levels of severity. Just recently you may have heard how Lucy Bronze, the talented key defender in the victorious England Lionesses football team, played the whole Women’s Euros Competition with a fractured tibia, the larger of the two shin bones.
Now Lucy will have had the support and guidance of a whole medical team which will have assessed the risk of her continuing to play while nursing this injury and she is clearly both strong-willed and resilient. Her decision as a world class athlete draws attention to the very fine line there is between resilience and risk.
Members of the general population don’t have participation in a European Football Cup competition to consider should they be unfortunate enough to suffer a fracture, but it is worth stressing that you don’t need to be an elite athlete to suffer such an injury. Fractures are very common. Some of us may have a higher risk, with factors such as our gene pool, diet, age and gender, amongst others, all potentially playing their part.
Understanding the different types of fractures
Knowing which type of fracture you may have sustained and, importantly, how it occurred will help with diagnosis and should give an advantage in gaining a quicker recovery, where possible.
Greenstick Fracture
This is best explained as being a situation where your bone would bend and crack, but the fracture is incomplete as your bone doesn’t break fully. It is often synonymous with children as their bones tend to be softer and have a greater elasticity as they are not fully formed. However, it would be wrong to simply label it as a children’s concern.
It is most commonly due to impact or a fall.
In children, the injury usually heals quickly; for adults it will take longer. Greenstick fractures are treated by immobilising the affected area, often by applying a splint or cast.
Shin Splints
This is the common term used but Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome is its full medical term. It manifests as pain along the shinbone caused by inflammation of tendons, muscles and bone tissue. As such, it isn’t actually a fracture but will likely develop into a stress fracture if left untreated.
It can be seen in people who experience repetitive stress in this area through an activity and road runners have a particularly high risk!
As with most types of recovery, rest and time are both essential. Initially regular icing of the affected area and anti-inflammatory exercises in the early days of recovery help before progressing to strengthening and flexibility exercises.
Stress Fractures
This is a very small crack in a bone frequently caused by overuse where repetitive force is involved. They often occur in the shins, feet or hips. Those playing a lot of sport which involves running and training hard are susceptible. But it need not be limited to sports; if you suddenly have an increase in the intensity of an activity this may also lead to a stress fracture.
Unsurprisingly, reducing weight-bearing activity and rest are advised for treatment. This then means a gradual return to activity, being careful to check how you feel as you go. In some cases, protective footwear or crutches may be given.
Hairline Fractures
These are usually found in your vertebrae (back) and ribs. They are linked to weakened bones and, as such, are normally seen in older people or those who have osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis and osteopenia – the condition which precedes osteoporosis – result from having low bone mineral density which makes fracturing your bones far more likely.
In more severe cases, something as everyday as coughing or knocking into furniture can cause a rib to fracture.
Treatment can involve managing the pain and physiotherapy. Medication can also be prescribed to mitigate the progress of the osteoporosis. However, there is far more that you can do to help address the situation and strengthen your bones by being pro-active to prevent getting into this situation.
Compound Fractures
As the name suggests, this is the most serious type of fracture as it brings with it other complications and risks. A compound fracture is also known as an ‘open fracture’ as it occurs when a bone breaks through the skin. This means there is also a higher risk of infection.
It occurs when you suffer a severe trauma such as a road accident or contact sports injury.
This fracture often needs surgery to fix and hold the broken bones back in place. As a result, the recovery period is much longer, in some cases requiring one or more operations. Thereafter, antibiotics are prescribed, followed by convalescence and rehabilitation.
Giving broken bones a healing hand
In the case of any recovery from a fractured bone, nutrition plays a vital role and doubling the daily serving of bonebalance™ for the first three months can also help.