A fractured radial head occurs when the smaller bone of your forearm, known as the radius, breaks at the portion closest to your elbow. Symptoms include elbow-area swelling, difficulty moving the forearm and hindered elbow movement. Treatment depends on injury severity, with advanced cases requiring surgery. At-home exercises for a fractured radial head concentrate on initially restoring range of motion to avoid stiffness, then advance to strengthening maneuvers. Check with your doctor first, since not all exercises may work for you.
Gently Rotate Forearms
At-home exercises for a fractured radial head need to work on improving your forearm's ability to turn properly. Turning your forearm involves being able to move your palm from facing up to facing down, known as pronation and supination, according to the Memorial Sports Medicine Institute. Work on your forearm mobility by sitting upright in a firm chair. Gently bend your affected side elbow to a 90-degree angle while keeping the elbow at your side. Slowly turn your palm toward the ceiling. Hold 10 seconds. Slowly return to original position. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times. Do the exercise again while turning palm downward. As you become more flexible, increase the intensity by holding onto a filled soup can or 1-lb. weight.
Gently Stretch Elbow
During initial recuperation stages, your affected elbow will not be strong enough to bend on its own. At-home exercises for a fractured radial head need to use your healthy arm at this point. Start doing an assisted elbow flexion by sitting upright in a firm chair placed alongside a waist-high table, according to the online physical rehabilitation site of Hep2go. Gently place your affected elbow on a pillow at the table's edge. Place your healthy hand onto your injured-side wrist and lower arm. Use your healthy hand to gently press down on your injured-side arm to straighten and stretch your injured elbow. Stretch as far as possible without causing undue pain. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds. Release the stretch and return your arm to the original position. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
Encourage Forced Bending
Forced bending provides another way for your at-home exercises for a fractured radial head to work on gently improving your elbow range of motion while avoiding stiffness. Do this gentle bending exercise while either sitting upright or standing comfortably. Place your healthy hand onto your injured-side wrist, according to Hep2Go. Gently but firmly, use your healthy hand to slowly bend your injured elbow up toward your body as far as possible. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds. Slowly release the stretch, and return your elbow to the original position. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
Use Broomsticks for Strengthening
At-home exercises for a fractured radial head concentrate on gently strengthening your lower arm and wrist muscles to return your elbow to a functioning level. Start using a broom handle as an exercise tool to do a wrist extension maneuver, according to the Memorial Sports Medicine Institute. Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart, and hold a broomstick with both hands in front of your body, palms facing downward. Straighten your elbows as much as possible. Gently rotate your wrists toward your body as if reeling in a fish. Hold the position 10 seconds. Slowly your return wrists to the original position. Relax for 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
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