Orthopedics Fractures & Broken Bones Physical Therapy After an Elbow Fracture By Brett Sears, PT Brett Sears, PT Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Brett Sears, PT, MDT, is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 22, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Oluseun Olufade, MD Medically reviewed by Oluseun Olufade, MD LinkedIn Twitter Oluseun Olufade, MD, is a board-certified orthopedist. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Why You May Need Physical Therapy Elbow Fracture Treatment Physical Therapy An elbow fracture can be a painful injury. It leads to decreased mobility in your arm, shoulder, or wrist which can limit your ability to work and perform simple daily tasks. Physical therapy can help you restore range of motion, joint mobility, strength, and functional use of your arm. This article discusses some of the goals of physical therapy for a broken elbow, and what types of exercises you might expect to do during your recovery. Verywell / Mira Norian Signs and Symptoms of an Elbow Fracture Why You May Need Physical Therapy The elbow is a joint where the arm bone, called the humerus, meets the radius and ulna bones of the forearm. The bony end of the ulna is called the olecranon process. This is the bone you feel when you are leaning your elbow on a table. The bones of the elbow are connected by ligaments on the inner and outer parts of your arm. The most common cause of an elbow fracture is trauma to your arm near your elbow. This can happen after a fall on your elbow or outstretched arm, or during a car crash or sports-related accident. Verywell / Gary Ferster These injuries usually happen suddenly. A blunt force impact can fracture one of the following bones: The radial head, located at the top of the smaller forearm boneThe distal humerus, located at the lower part of the upper arm boneThe olecranon, which is the ball of the elbow joint Compound fractures and dislocations can also occur. A fracture with dislocation is especially problematic, causing long-term pain and stiffness. Moreover, many people will develop excessive bone growth called ossification and joint impairment. While your elbow heals, it is important to keep it from getting too stiff or weak. This is why you should work with a physical therapist early on, even while you are still wearing a brace or sling. Elbow Fracture Treatment After diagnosing your elbow fracture, your healthcare provider will reduce the fracture. During this process, your elbow bones are put in the correct position so that optimal healing can take place. If the fracture is severe, your surgeon may recommend an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). During this surgical procedure, the bones are manually realigned. Screws, plates, or wires are inserted to hold the bones in place. After your elbow fracture is reduced, you may need to wear a brace or a sling. Occasionally, an elbow fracture will be put in a cast. Usually, though, it's thought that immobilizing an elbow fracture is too risky. This is because it may lead to severe stiffness and permanent loss of mobility. Physical Therapy A major problem with an elbow fracture is stiffness that limits the range of motion. Sometimes, this stiffness persists long after the bones have healed. To prevent this, your healthcare provider may have you start physical therapy soon after the injury. Your physical therapist will work with you to help you regain normal use of your elbow and arm. They may use many different physical therapy treatments and modalities to help you quickly return to normal activity. Range of Motion One of the main goals of physical therapy after an elbow fracture is to restore normal range of motion (ROM). The elbow is a complex joint that allows you to bend your arm or turn your hand over. To regain normal use of your arm, you need full ROM of the elbow and forearm. As a rule, the early introduction of ROM therapy achieves better and faster results. A 2016 study found that even elderly people who started ROM exercises soon after immobilization required fewer days of therapy. Those who delayed needed 17 days of therapy vs. 6.5 days for those who started early. If your ROM loss is severe, your physical therapist may have you wear a dynamic splint. This is a spring-loaded splint worn throughout the day. It provides a low-load stretch to your elbow joint to help improve your ROM. The splint can be used to improve the bending and straightening of your elbow. Elbow Range of Motion Exercises Strength Exercises After an elbow fracture, pain and swelling in your elbow may keep you from using your arm. Wearing a sling can also limit the use of your elbow, wrist, and hand. If you have had an ORIF, the muscles around the surgical incision may need time to heal. This period of disuse may cause a significant loss of strength around your elbow, shoulder, wrist, and hand. Your physical therapist can also teach you the proper way to wear your sling and can ensure it fits correctly. They can also prescribe exercises for your hand. Hand exercises can help ensure your grip strength returns to pre-injury levels. Your physical therapist can teach you strengthening exercises for your shoulder and elbow. They can also prescribe exercises to help improve wrist and hand strength. These exercises can help you regain normal use of your arm. Pain Management After an elbow fracture, you may have swelling around your elbow. Your physical therapist can help you manage the pain and swelling. For example, you might use ice or electrical stimulation. A case report found that joint mobilization and shortwave diathermy could help restore normal ROM. Shortwave diathermy is a kind of heat treatment. Scar Tissue Management If you have had an ORIF, your physical therapist can help you manage scar tissue that may have formed. Scar tissue massage and mobilization can help improve scar mobility. Your therapist can also teach you self-massage techniques. Ongoing Care Most people should be able to return to normal activities within four months. For some, full healing can take up to a year. It's common to still have a mild loss of mobility after this time. That's why it's important to continue the range of motion and strength exercises that you learned in physical therapy. Keep going with your home exercise program after you've finished physical therapy. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about the expected outcomes for your specific case. Summary If not properly cared for, an elbow fracture can lead to loss of mobility. This is why it's important to work with a physical therapist early on. Your physical therapist can teach you the right exercises to help you strengthen your elbow and shoulder and regain normal use of your arm. A Word From Verywell Physical therapy after an elbow fracture can help you safely begin early mobility. It can also help you restore normal strength and function in your arm. Physical therapy can also play an important role in the management of pain and swelling. After an elbow fracture, make sure to work closely with your healthcare provider and physical therapist. This will help you quickly and safely return to normal activity. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. NYU Langone Health. Diagnosing shoulder & elbow fractures. Shukla DR, Pillai G, McAnany S, Hausman M, Parsons BO. Heterotopic ossification formation after fracture-dislocations of the elbow. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015;24(3):333-8. doi:10.1016/j.jse.2014.11.037 John Hopkins Medicine. Elbow fracture open reduction and internal fixation. Jones V. Conservative management of the post-traumatic stiff elbow: a physiotherapist's perspective. Shoulder Elbow. 2016;8(2):134–141. doi:10.1177/1758573216633065 Ikpeze TC, Smith HC, Lee DJ, Elfar JC. Distal radius fracture outcomes and rehabilitation. Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil. 2016;7(4):202-205. doi:10.1177/2151458516669202 Draper DO, Veazey E. Pulsed shortwave diathermy and joint mobilizations restore a twice-fractured elbow with metal implants to full range of motion. J Nov Physiother Rehabil. 2017;1:020-026. doi:10.29328/journal.jnpr.1001003 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Elbow (olecranon) fractures.