About the condition

What is a hip fracture?

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint which connects to the pelvis – thefemoralhead (upper part of the thigh [femur] bone) is the ‘ball’, and the ‘socket’ is theacetabulum (part of the pelvis) This joint is then supported and held together by ligaments, tendons and the labrum. A hip fracture can occur at the following:

Fractures and other serious injuries to the hip joint can result in damage to nearby nerves, blood vessels and other musculoskeletal structures, causing chronic pain or permanent injury.

Femoral neck– fracture to the area under the femoral head
Intertrochanteric area– fracture between the space under the femoral neck and above the long shaft of thefemur(thigh) bone
Subtrochanteric area– fracture to the area along the long femur bone
Femoral head– fracture to the ball-shaped area on top thefemurwhich sits in the socket

Causes

What are the causes?

The cause of an hip fracture can vary in severity, and can greatly impair mobility and function. Tpyically, those over 65 years of age (especially elderly women) are most at risk of fracturing their hip.

Some common factors which can trigger a fracture include:

Falls– usually a low-energy fall, common in elderly individuals with weakened bones
Spontaneous causes– fractures can be triggered randomly while walking or standing on severely weakened bones
Trauma– car accidents or high-contact activity
Sports-related injuries– repetitive impact against the hip joint or connecting bones, e.g. from long distance running, etc.
Abnormal, rapid and sudden movementor pressure against the hip joint (sometimes also causing dislocation)
Lifestyle– sedentary, minimal exercise, history of smoking/alcohol consumption, being underweight, etc.
Health contraindications– low vitamin D/calcium + other nutrients, genetic predispositions (bone weakness), comorbid diagnoses (Hip OA, dementia, Parkinson’s disease), etc.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms?

Pain (delayed or immediate) – can be sudden/severe/aching Referred pain felt down the thigh bone, gluts, groin or pelvis Pain while walking/standing/sitting
Referred pain felt down the thigh bone, gluts, groin or pelvis
Pain while walking/standing/sitting
Stiffness/inability to move the hip joint (through leg motion)
Tenderness/painful to touch
Reduced or no range of movement
Inability/extreme difficulty to weight bear on the hip/leg
Swelling and bruising
Instability – feels like the joint is slipping out of place

Treatment

Treatment for a hip fracture

If you have fractured your hip, it is important to seek out immediate medical treatment. You will likely be referred for CT, X-ray or MRI scans to determine the extent of the injury. Often, surgical intervention is the first method of treatment – whether that be the insertion of pins to stabilise the joint, to a complete hip replacement.

Physical therapy is also highly beneficial in rehabilitating the structures around the hip joint after a fracture to increase range of movement and strength. At Vitalis Physiotherapy, we tailor a unique treatment plan to aid in your recovery through:

Your physiotherapist may also advise heat or ice application, rest and if necessary, pain medication. Additionally, they might recommend for you to use supportive braces or belts.

Stretching, strengthening and/or conditioning exercises
Restoring range of movement
Postural improvement
Joint mobilisation
Soft tissue release (massage)
Shockwave Therapy
Dry needling
Taping
A unique home exercise program
Graded Exposure to load program

Hip Fracture Treatment in Sinnamon Park

What is a hip fracture?

What are the causes?

What are the symptoms?

Treatment for a hip fracture

Treating Hip Fracture in Sinnamon Park

Get it assessed properly