Physiotherapists in Basingstoke treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Clavicle Fractures

The clavicle (collar bone) is commonly fractured in activities which involve the risk of falling on the upper quadrant of the body such as sport, bicycling or simple falls in children and the elderly. The clavicle is a stabilising bone between the scapula and the sternum, holding the arm away from the body during activities and allowing the exertion of force and power. Fracture give acute pain over the bone itself, swelling and bruising and perhaps deformity as the alignment of the bone is disturbed. The fracture may crunch on attempted movement of the arm and be very painful.

To allow healing the arm should be rested for three weeks in a sling to minimise the forces through the clavicle until the fracture begins to unite, during which time the patient should limit arm movement to below shoulder level. Once the pain has reduced after the three week point the arm ranges of movement can be gradually increased. In some cases healing of clavicular fractures can be slow or internal fixation become necessary if they show no signs of uniting after two months or so. Limitation of shoulder movement after fracture is uncommon and physiotherapists typically advise patients on exercises to restore full range.

Flexion Wrist Fracture

Fractures of the last inch of the radius and ulna make up seventy-five percent of all wrist injuries and require careful assessment and treatment to ensure a good functional outcome. The hand is a very important part and any residual disability can have long term functional consequences. A fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) often results in a Colles fracture but it can also result in a flexion fracture which is called a reversed Colles fracture or a Smith fracture. This latter type of fracture is much less common than the Colles fracture and is generally used to describe a fracture of the end of the radius which results in the fragment being displaced in a palmar direction.

This injury is commonly caused by falling onto the hand with the palm facing upward and the wrist tending to be forced into flexion. The hand stays in place on the ground as the forearm rotates inwards under the force of the fall, generating the fracture. This fracture can also be produced by punching something with the wrist in a slightly bent position. Overall management is the same as for Colles fracture, with realignment of the bony fragments and immobilisation.