Poona Hospital & Research Centre

A bone fracture occurs when a strong external force is applied on the bones causing it to break. It is an extremely painful condition that results in days of immobility and rest. There are several reasons which can result in bone fracture, some of them being:

1. Injuries caused in sports

Any sport requires and demands extreme physical exertion and participation. Being involved in any sport therefore automatically increases your risk of incurring injuries. Bone fractures therefore are mostly reported during sports.

2. Osteoporosis

Due to the deficiency of calcium, the bones of both men and women tend to get weak and more susceptible to fracture and breakage. It is one of the primary causes that lead to bone fracture.

3. Osteomalacia

This also refers to a condition wherein the bones become weak and brittle. Much like osteoporosis, osteomalacia too significantly contributes to instances of bone fractures.

4. Osteosarcoma

This is a rare form of bone cancer that most often develops either near the femur or near the shinbone. An instance of this form of bone cancer is most often found in children and weakens the bone, consequently leading to fractures.

Though there may be different causes of broken fractures, its symptoms remain similar. Some of them are-

1. Swelling

One of the most common symptoms of bone fracture is perceptible swelling. If any of your bone is fractured, that particular part will be visibly swollen.

2. Deformity

Bones give your body the shape it has, thereby, any fracture anywhere would inevitably manifest itself as a clear deformity of that particular part.

3. Extreme pain

It goes without saying that a bone fracture would entail excruciating and extreme pain. This pain sharply increases with mobility thereby necessitating complete rest.

4. Temporary loss of function

The part of the body where the bone is broken temporarily becomes dysfunctional. For instance, if the bone in your hand is broken, you will find it extremely difficult to move and do any work with it.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product with platelet concentrations above baseline values. The process involves the extraction of blood from the patient which is then centrifuged to obtain a concentrated suspension of platelets by plasmapheresis.

A stinging pain in the neck that makes you feel broken from the neck joint could be a reason to worry. It is often accompanied by an aching head or a throbbing shoulder joint. Neck pain, such as this occurs due to an injury in the area resulting from sudden back and forth movement of the neck. It is referred to as whiplash as the nature of the pain and subsequent discomfort resembles the snapping of a whip. The pain is more like a sprain, but not exactly so. This can affect athletes or even any person in general who has faced an accident in recent past. Whiplash is characterized by a tearing of ligaments and tendons that connect one bone to another.

Causes of Whiplash:

1. Sports that involve contact- Any extracurricular activity involving collisions or other forms of physical contact can cause neck injuries. Football and rugby players frequently suffer from Whiplash.

2. Road accidents- Public transport has a host of disadvantages. Reckless driving can make the tendons of your neck tear. Auto accidents cause immense strain on your neck; it can also lead to Whiplash.

3. Any kind of physical abuse- If you have gotten into a violent fight with someone your neck could suffer from a Whiplash. Instances of physical abuse where the neck is jerked or punched at can also result in neck strains. Domestic violence often leads to instances of neck strains.

Symptoms related to this condition:

1. You may or may not suffer from tinnitus. Tinnitus is a physical disorder where you hear ringing sounds. It is quite distracting.
2. Your vision might get blurry.
3. You can experience irregular sleep patterns.
4. You can find it hard to concentrate on any one thing for more than a while.
5. You can grow irritable at the drop of a hat.
6. Your memory may fail you. You might find it next to impossible to trace back a day's activity.

Some of the other direct symptoms are:

1. Your neck might turn stiff preventing you from moving it left, right, up or down.
2. Pangs of pain can be felt in and around your shoulders.
3. Your upper arms can grow numb and tender.
4. Your head can spin repeatedly or you could feel dizzy.
5. Whiplash can also result in serious fatigue.

Orthopedic disorders include all the issues and ailments that are related to the muscles, joints and ligaments. Orthopedic disorders are so widespread and so large in number that it is very difficult to list all of them down.

However, among them the five most common orthopedic disorders are :

1. Arthritis

It is a chronic and a long lasting orthopedic disorder in which you witness the swelling or inflammation of one or more joints in the body. This condition is very painful in nature and it tends to deteriorate gradually. This condition usually affects elderly people and it also worsens with age which ultimately causes stiffness of the joints and limits your routine body movements.

2. Osteoarthritis

This is a degenerative joint disorder which leads to immense levels of pain and discomfort in the joints of the body. This is one of the most serious forms of orthopedic diseases that have been noticed. This disease involve degradation and decline in the overall quality of the bones and joints in the affected areas.

3. Lower back pain

This condition refers to periods of pain and discomfort in the lower part of your spinal area. This condition is very common nowadays and as a result of this pain your back usually becomes tender, swollen and stiff. This pain also stops you from doing your overall routine activities.

4. Rheumatoid arthritis

It is an orthopedic disorder in which there is severe amounts of swelling of a particular joint accompanied by small lumps on the affected area that further degrade the external appearance of the skin of the area. In case of adults, this disorder lasts for a lifetime and worsens with time, if left untreated. 

With age our body begins to show signs of wear and tear, wrinkles appear on the skin, movement slows down etc. Osteoarthritis is one such condition that is a result of advancing age. This is a musculoskeletal condition where the cartilage between the bones at a joint gradually wears down and disintegrates. As a result, the bones have no cushioning and moving the joint becomes hard and painful. There is no cure for osteoarthritis and no way to prevent it either. However, physiotherapy can help improve the patient’s quality of life.

Here are some of the benefits of physiotherapy for osteoarthritis patients.

• Better pain management: A doctor may prescribe painkillers but these narcotics are addictive and hence should not be used for long-term pain. Instead, physiotherapy exercises and massages should be used to reduce and relieve pain in the joints. Heat and cold therapy can also help. This also helps reduce inflammation around the joint.
• Increased range of motion: As the cartilage disintegrates, the amount of motion possible for a joint reduces. Many people suffering from this condition find themselves unable to close their fist completely or have a lot of pain while walking. Physiotherapy exercises can help preserve the cartilage between bones and increases the range of motion.
• Stability: Along with exercises, massages etc., physiotherapists also employ aids and support devices such as walkers, canes, braces, and splints. Depending on the patient’s condition, a physiotherapist can help identify the support device best suited for the patient and teach him or her how to use it. This keeps the patient safe while walking and promotes stability.
• Weight management: Controlling weight becomes difficult when moving is painful. Many osteoarthritis patients find themselves putting on weight as the amount they exercise reduces. However, this only aggravates the problem. Being overweight puts more pressure and stress on joints and speeds up the disintegration of cartilage. Thus by teaching the patient the correct way to exercise and improving their range of motion, physiotherapists can help patients manage their weight better.

Physiotherapy must always be conducted by an experienced physiotherapist. It is equally important to listen to your body and to challenge it. Only a good physiotherapist will know when you can push your body out of its comfort zone and when you should simply rest. So do not overdo an exercise as it could harm the muscles and joint. If you experience any pain while exercising, it must be brought to the notice of the physiotherapist immediately.