A femur fracture is a break in your thighbone. Since the femur is a large weight-bearing bone, this is a serious injury. Treatment may include surgery, and recovery usually takes several months. Rehabilitation is a vital part of that recovery process to regain strength and range-of-motion in your leg.
Femur Fracture
Your femur, or thighbone, is the longest and strongest bone in your body. Because it is so strong, it requires a large amount of force to break. Most femur fractures are caused by direct trauma such as falls, blows or collisions. If you believe you have broken your femur, seek medical attention immediately. Treatment of this injury varies depending on your age, the amount of bone displacement, the type of break and the presence of other injuries. Treatment options include casting; a surgical method such as plating, where a metal plate is applied on the side of the bone to help bear weight; or intramedullary fixation, where a metal rod is placed inside the bone to promote stabilization.
Healing Time
Once your doctor deems you ready, you can begin your rehabilitation. Remember that if you needed surgery, your soft tissue will require time to heal first. Everyone recovers from injury at different speeds. Because a femur fracture is a serious injury, it usually takes about three to six months to fully heal.
Rehabilitation Exercises
Two exercises that accomplish this healing are knee extensions and knee flexions. To perform knee extensions, sit in a chair and place your foot on another chair in front of you. Gently push the raised knee toward the floor using only leg muscles and hold for five to 10 seconds; then rest a minute and repeat 10 times, up to three times a day.
For knee flexions, sit and place a long towel underneath your foot. Gently pull on the towel with both hands to bend your knee, raising your foot 4 or 5 inches off the floor. Hold for five to 10 seconds and then rest. Repeat 10 times, up to three times per day.
Strengthening Exercises
Strength-building exercises are slightly more intense; they are needed to regain the strength in your femur and leg muscles. Strengthening exercises include quadriceps sets and wall slides. For quadriceps sets, straighten your leg while sitting and hold the stretch. Repeat this five to 10 times, up to three times a day. To perform a wall slide, lean against a wall and bend your knees 30 degrees, sliding down the wall; then straighten up again. Repeat five to 10 times, up to three times a day.
