The femur is the large, long thigh bone that connects your hip to your knee. Femur fractures are often cause by osteoporosis in older people; extensive force in contact sports; or trauma in motor vehicle accidents. A femur fracture can be quite serious due to the involvement of muscles, nerves and arteries in the thigh. After six to eight weeks of immobilization, you can begin range of motion, or ROM, exercises. Get your doctor's or physical therapist's OK before beginning a recovery exercise program.
Flexion
Flexion refers to the movement of your hip and knee as they bend forward. To flex your hip, lie on a table on your back. Lift your injured leg off the table and toward your face, keeping your knee straight. To flex your knee, lie on a table on your back. Slide the heel of your injured leg toward your buttock. Hold each position for 30 seconds and repeat three to five times per day.
Extension
Extension refers to the straightening of a joint, which is the opposite of bending/flexion. To extend your hip, lie on your side on a table with your injured leg on top. Keeping your body and knee straight, swing your hip backward. To extend your knee, straighten it. Hold the position for 30 seconds and repeat three to five times per day.
Internal and External Rotation
Both your hip and knee joints rotate. For your hip, lie on a table on your back. Rotate your leg in at the hip for internal rotation, and out for external rotation. For your knee, sit in a chair with your feet hip-width apart. Raise your toes toward your shin and rotate them in to perform internal rotation of the knee. Rotate the toes out to perform external rotation. Hold each position for 30 seconds and repeat three to five times per day.
Abduction and Adduction
Abduction refers to a movement that moves a limb away from your body. By contrast, adduction refers to a movement that brings a limb closer to your body. These ranges of motion involve only the hip, not the knee. Begin by lying on your back. Slide your injured leg out to the side as far as it will go to perform abduction. Next, bring your leg back toward the body, to perform adduction. Hold each position for 30 seconds and repeat three to five times per day.
References
- "Internal Fixation of Femoral Neck Fractures"; Jeno Manninger, et al.; 2007
- "Trail Guide to the Body"; Andrew Biel; 2005
- "Osteoporosis"; Reiner Bartl, et al.; 2004
- "Advanced Assessment and Treatment of Trauma"; Michael Pante; 2009
- "Rehabilitation Techniques for Sports Medicine and Athletic Training"; William E. Prentice; 2004
Member Comments