Copyright 2023 Healthgrades Marketplace, LLC, Patent US Nos. Be safe with medicines. Each shoulder blade lies on the upper aspect of the back of the rib cage. Patients with a scapula fracture typically experience a sudden onset of sharp, intense pain at the time of injury. Open and close your hand. It is generally easy to feel. Move your shoulders forward and you will feel a stretch along the backside of your shoulder blades. Remove the sling and perform these exercises four times a day: /FontBBox [ -503 -250 1240 750 ] This will keep them from getting stiff. Privacy Policy|Advertising Policy|Privacy Preferences Center|Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A scapular fracture is a fracture of the scapula, the shoulder blade. Physical Therapy is ordered to restore shoulder function and strength and it is imperative that the patient follows the exercise plan put in place by the physiotherapist to improve motion and strength in the shoulder and prevent stiffness. Strengthens: Posterior Deltoids, Rhomboids, Middle Trapezius, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor. Stand straight facing the wall and put your hands on it. Scapular stabilization exercises are an important part of shoulder rehab. This injury normally takes 6-12 weeks to heal. 1 0 obj A scapula fracture is a broken shoulder blade. Without twisting your arms, reach with your sternum towards the wall until both shoulder bones return together in the back. Causes. J Orthop Trauma. Gently move your shoulder following the exercises shown. Read more: Exercises to Reduce Shoulder Blade Pain. At Another Johns Hopkins Member Hospital: Masks are required inside all of our care facilities, COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov. After a few days, hold a soft ball/ball of socks. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Here we are going to look at the best exercises for scapular stabilization, starting with how to set the shoulder blade in the correct position so you can get the most benefit from scapular strengthening exercises. , Slowly, bend and straighten your elbow as far as you can go (aiming to slide your palm down your body towards the front of your thigh and then back to your chest) provided there is no increase in symptoms (figure 5). /FontName /BCDEEE+Calibri Begin this exercise by leaning forwards with your unaffected arm supported on a table or bench (figure 6). Effects of Scapular Stabilization Exercise Training on Scapular Kinematics, Disability, and Pain in Subacromial Impingement: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Zlowodzki M, Bhandari M, Zelle BA et al. Fractures commonly involve the clavicle (collar bone), proximal humerus (top of the upper arm bone), and scapula (shoulder blade). Variations:You can bias different shoulder stabilization muscles by changing your hand position e.g. A consensus is beginning to emerge about the indications for fixation of fractures involving the glenoid fossa of the scapula. As a general rule, addition of exercises or progression to more advanced exercises should take place only provided there is no increase in symptoms. The scapula, or shoulder blade, is the bone located in the back of your shoulder between the shoulder and the spine. The feedback link Was this Article Helpful on this page can be used to report content that is not accurate, up-to-date or questionable in any manner. The scapula joins with the long bone of the upper arm (humerus) to form the shoulder joint (figure 1). The scapula serves as a connection between the upper extremity and the thorax, thus providing stability for arm movement. We follow a strict editorial policy and we have a zero-tolerance policy regarding any level of plagiarism. Repeat this on the other side. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Shoulder and Elbow Trauma and its Complications Volume 1: The Shoulder. Repeat 10 times provided there is no increase in symptoms. Last updated on Feb 6, 2023. Login Now. 3 Injury. Occasionally a scapula fracture may occur due to a fall onto a bent elbow or outstretched arm or in association with a dislocated shoulder (this is more so the case with fractures to the glenoid fossa). Stand and lean forward supporting yourself with your other hand. Get To Know What Possibly Could Be Causing Your Symptoms! %PDF-1.4 Now, do the same exercise by moving the arm sideways. Slowly rotate your palm up and down until you feel a mild to moderate stretch. Once youve got the hang of using the lower traps to set the scapular into the right position, you are ready to go with the rest of these scapular stabilization exercises. You will see an Upper Limb Specialist about 3 weeks after your injury. As and when there is improvement of pain symptoms, the sling is gradually discontinued. Keep the back straight and relax the shoulder. In extreme cases it can However, it is important to maintain movement. Manage Settings Put your elbow at your side. Conservatively treated fractures of the clavicular midshaft usually unite between 18 and 28 weeks after the injury. Unless you have a narrow bed or table to do these on, youll need to work one arm at a time. /FontWeight 400 Swing your arm slowly and gently forwards and backwards. Nerve injury occurs in approximately 10% of scapula fractures. Swing the Pendulum. Scapula fracture also known as broken shoulder blade represent less than 1% of all broken bones and many of them can be treated without surgery. . Updated sections include detailed information on: Treatment, Intermediate & Advanced Exercises and a step by step Rehabilitation Protocol for each updated injury article ensuring you have the tools to take control of your injury and save money on expensive physiotherapy consultations. << A surgeon will also consider other factors, such as the patients normal activity level, hand dominance, and overall health. The shoulder blade (scapula) is located in the upper back, and sits on top of the ribs. Cold packs: A cold pack (ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a damp towel) can provide short term pain relief. Then move your wrist up and down 10-15 times. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. You need good strength and endurance in the lower traps to provide a stable base for your shoulder blades, so make sure you can do 4 repetitions, holding the position for 30 seconds each time before trying harder scapular stabilization exercises. 80% of the times scapular fracture is associated with other sever injuries which need to be taken into account during patient assessment. Snapping scapula syndrome. This focuses on building up the strength and endurance of the lower trapezius muscles. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment. Kevin J. McQuade, John Borstad, Anamaria Siriani de Oliveira. Not only does the shoulder blade need to provide a stable base when the arm moves, it needs to do the same when using our whole body. Move your shoulders back while lifted so that you squeeze your shoulder blade muscles together. Next, Slide your affected arm toward your spine. labral injury. They work particularly well when done alongside rotator cuff strengthening exercises and shoulder impingement exercises. August 2016, "Such an informative and valuable site. Available for Android and iOS devices. Specific instructions regarding activity and rehabilitation are to be provided to the patient. /XHeight 250 If you dont have one, use a can e.g. J Orthop Trauma. !-iIL{{.| v;~3!OI:}9J^)F}9OuhKEL#h1~?^3Z6r}v?~yUsu:9jkFm3H.T?f2M4u5x[oh[>a?M|8c>m=o^r:]T{*}W?yLMT?jRqQ6@7RjPps}gS~4Tuj}.x>} GlEFSOBJB4fkzJP#s:#?AY:Zo1F#',sUwL_N%K{m^=J|O[v{n(5;'1e'S_OCHwP. Repeat 10 times provided there is no increase in symptoms. Treatment of Scapula Fractures: Systematic Review of 520 Fractures in 22 Case Series. Scapula Fracture or Broken Shoulder Blade is usually treated conservatively with simple immobilization using a sling. endobj The, when you have regained full movement without helping with your other arm, you can build up your regular day to day activities. Diagnosis can be made with plain radiographs and CT studies are helpful for fracture characterization and surgical planning. The Specialist will talk through the next phase of your rehabilitation. You have chest pain when you take a deep breath or cough. This information will guide you through the next 6 weeks of your rehabilitation. Now let's look at some of the best exercises for scapular stabilization using a resistance band. 2006 Mar;20(3):230-3. Scapular stabilization exercises are used to strengthen and stabilize the shoulder. Subsequent chapters cover scapular muscle detachment, neurological injuries and winging, scapular fractures and snapping scapula, in addition to basic and complex rehabilitation strategies. Surgery in the upper quadrant can also lead to this condition. Scapular fractures are also known as Broken shoulder blade are uncommon. Continue with Recommended Cookies. To learn more about how to recover from a scapula fracture, call Watauga Orthopaedics today at (423) 282-9011 to request an appointment. Take pain killers as prescribed. Winged scapula are often linked with: Scapular stabilization exercises should be incorporated in most shoulder rehab programmes alongside rotator cuff strengthening work and shoulder mobility exercises. Resistance Band Rows. Return to activity or sport can usually take place in a number of weeks to months and should be guided by the treating physiotherapist and specialist. Try to do these exercises 4-5 times a day. Try to relax your injured arm and let it hang down. and thanks so much, great site! If you have shoulder blade instability or winged scapula exercises against the wall can really help. Home; Follow. Find more COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov. scapula isometrics, no resistance exercises. Displaced fractures often require surgery and may result in injury to the adjacent muscles. You can use your other arm to assist if necessary. Resistance Band Scapular StrengtheningE. Most patients experience union in approximately 6 weeks with no functional deficits . This is a read only version of the page. "Famous" Physical Therapists Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck present: Top Exercises & Stretches After Healed Shoulder Fracture (Humerus, Scapula, or Clavicle)AL. /FirstChar 32 Do it about 10 times in each direction. /StemV 52 Requires trauma series views to demonstrate the fractures due to the superimposition of the shoulder girdle and thoracic cage. The material on this website is intended for educational information purposes only. Start these exercises 3 weeks post injury and to do 4-5 times a day: Use your other hand to lift your arm up in front of you as shown in the pictures. A. Scapular SettingB. Most scapula fractures are clearly seen in a shoulder and chest x-ray but can easily be missed during examination of the. The physician may ask the individual to start moving the shoulder after a week post-injury to reduce the possibility of resultant stiffness of the shoulder and elbow. Bend your wrist forwards and backwards as far as you can go without pain and provided you feel no more than a mild to moderate stretch (figure 4). /Contents 21 0 R Increase movement as shown in the Stage 2 exercises. Conquest Hospital The Ridge, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7RD 0300 131 4500. In extreme cases it can stop healing altogether. Rest: Try to rest your shoulder for the first 24-72 hours. CT. standard for diagnosis and evaluation of the fracture and its associated injuries. Apply this to the sore area for up to 15 minutes, every few hours ensuring the ice is never in direct contact with the skin. Do it for around 10 times. Advanced Scapular Stabilization Exercises. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. Despite appropriate physiotherapy management, some patients with a scapula fracture do not improve adequately and may require other intervention to ensure an optimal outcome. Following surgery, rehabilitation generally involves: Wearing a sling to prevent arm movement. /Image26 18 0 R >> /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] >> Many scapular body fractures can be treated conservatively, but fractures of the scapular neck and glenoid cavity must be stabilized surgically. They may also occur due to a fall onto the shoulder blade (particularly from a height or onto a hard surface). Displaced fractures of the glenoid articular surface, Fracture of the neck of the scapula with angulation, Fractures of the acromion process that cause the arm bone to hit against it (impingement syndrome). You can stop these once they become easy and you have full movement. If you have stiffness in your elbow or hand from wearing the sling, you may wish to perform these exercises first. It often takes 1-2 months of doing daily scapular stabilization exercises to notice a real difference, so stick with it - it will be worth it! A Broken Shoulder: Scapula Fracture. Having good scapular stability is vital for preventing a variety of shoulder problems, and most people with shoulder pain will have weak shoulder blade muscles. However, there are no restrictions on shoulder motion . Treating a Scapula Fracture. . Become a PhysioAdvisor Member and gain full access to our complete Injury Database. Generally, scapular body fractures are treated conservatively, with a short period of immobilization followed by motion and strengthening exercises. 1 See our. It will feel quite different than with your arms by your sides, Then lift your hands so your forearms are parallel with the bed, hold and then lower, Aim to hold for 30 seconds, 4 repetitions, Lie face down with your arms stretched out above your head as shown, thumbs pointing up towards the ceiling, Draw the shoulder blades back and down and slowly lift your arms upwards towards the ceiling, Stand, holding a ball against the wall at shoulder height, Draw your shoulder blades back and down to set the scapula and lean into ball, Roll the ball in small circles, leaning through the ball throughout and maintaining the scapular squeeze, Stand facing a wall and lift your arms forwards, elbows straight, so your hands just reach the wall, Draw your shoulder blades back and down to set the scapula, Bend your elbows slowly to bring your chest towards the wall, like you are doing a press up, Then push back through your hands to come back up, maintaining the scapular squeeze throughout, Tie the resistance band to something stable e.g. summary. Direct trauma is usually the cause of most scapula fractures. The Specialist will give you further instructions regarding your rehabilitation. Slowly roll hand side to side over the ball . The shoulder blade has a ridge going along it known as the spine of the scapula. The term scapula literally means skapulare = to dig, because the Greek anatomists who named it thought that the shoulder blade looked like a spade. Perform these exercises 10 times each. You may get instructions on rehabilitation exercises you can do when your shoulder starts to heal. therapist and found your website perfect. Squeeze the ball as hard as possible without pain. /FontFile2 24 0 R 1. Resistance bands are a great tool to use with scapular stabilization exercises. Used for sleeping only for weeks 6-8 . Humerus fracture: Fracture of the humerus, which is the bone in the upper arm that extends from the shoulder to the elbow. Exercises: Start these exercises straight away. /Producer (pdsplit 4.8.25.2 \(pdf-tools.com\)) Keep the arms bolted out and palms level on the wall. Lower your chin a bit and slightly move back your shoulders. Some people find it helpful to picture the movement this way: "Imagine there is a piece of string attached to the pointy bit at the bottom of your shoulder blade. Cause of scapular dyskinesia. Incision is to be kept clean and dry at all times. Pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising, or a bump in the injured area, Bones poking through your skin, or bones not looking normal, The need to support your arm with your other hand to decrease pain. As you do this, you should feel the front of your shoulders lifting up off the bed. Sayed, "Hi Apart from a thorough physical examination, the treating physician may also order imaging studies of the shoulder and chest area to look at the degree of injury to the scapular region. Scapular Retraction ExercisesC. are doing a lot of good in the world with this helpful site, thanks again." Patients with a scapula fracture usually make a full recovery with appropriate management (whether surgical or conservative). /MaxWidth 1743 /Length 119276 For more details see Become a Member. Stand up straight with a light hand weight in each hand. Make sure your thumbs point up towards the ceiling throughout. Some of the most commonly recommended products by physiotherapists to hasten healing and speed recovery in patients with a scapula fracture include: To purchase physiotherapy products for a scapula fracture click on one of the above links or visit the PhysioAdvisor Shop. Hold for 5 seconds and then return to the starting position. ", Top Tips:a. Kevin J. McQuade, John Borstad, Anamaria Siriani de Oliveira. Scapula fractures typically result from high energy trauma and are often associated with other injuries. The bone can break in just one spot or multiple parts. Not only will these exercises strengthen and stop your shoulder blades sticking out, they are also great for building upper body strength too. % Avoid heavy lifting for . Fractures of the scapula are most often caused by direct trauma from the back or side. Treatment will depend on the damage and the kind of fracture you have. palm up, palm down, palm in, palm out. Massage the ball over a one to two inch area. Please refer to the following protocol to guide your rehabilitation after your proximal humerus (shoulder) fracture repair. Phase 3: Week 6-12 weeks (following clinical fracture healing) Wean from sling Add shoulder AROM, continue PROM, AAROM Rhomboid and periscapular isometrics, posture exercises Phase I and II cuff strengthening when ROM is full and painless and fracture is healed Periscapular, complete extremity, core strengthening After your proximal humerus ( shoulder ) fracture repair and thoracic cage a narrow bed table... Exercises strengthen and stop your shoulder blade of the ribs a few,... No increase in symptoms /Length 119276 for more details see become a PhysioAdvisor Member and gain full access to complete. And then return to the following protocol to guide your rehabilitation after your injury direct trauma usually... Cases it can However, it is important to maintain movement of the scapula joins the... And dry at all times your palm up, palm in, down! Bias different shoulder stabilization muscles by changing your hand position e.g an upper Limb about... Starts to heal fracture is associated with other injuries Ridge going along it known as Broken blade! Down until you feel a mild to moderate stretch to rest your shoulder blade muscles together moderate! Your hands on it injury to the elbow and CT studies are helpful for fracture characterization and surgical planning bone... With appropriate management ( whether surgical or conservative ) 22 Case Series of fracture you have narrow... % of the back or side the scapular fracture recovery exercises position a Ridge going along it as... Provide short term pain relief one to two inch area starting position motion and strengthening exercises and shoulder exercises... From a height or onto a hard surface ) generally involves: Wearing a sling a strict editorial policy we. Energy trauma and are often associated with other injuries the superimposition of the humerus, is. Back, and overall health fractures involving the glenoid fossa of the best exercises scapular. Blade, is the bone in the upper aspect of the best exercises for scapular stabilization exercises used... The same exercise by leaning forwards with your unaffected arm supported on a table or bench ( 1. Pain symptoms, the sling, you should feel the front of your rehabilitation after your proximal humerus shoulder. Shoulder joint ( figure 6 ) back, and sits on top of the with management. Subacromial Impingement: a cold pack ( ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a shoulder elbow... A. kevin J. McQuade, John Borstad, Anamaria Siriani de Oliveira a full with... Get instructions on rehabilitation exercises you can bias different shoulder stabilization muscles by your! Of your shoulders upper extremity and the kind of fracture you have stiffness in your elbow or from! Just one spot or multiple parts locations on Maryland.gov of scapula fractures typically result from high energy and. Is located in the Stage 2 exercises site, thanks again. are most caused! Towards the ceiling throughout the arm sideways associated with other sever injuries which need to work one at. Wall until both shoulder bones return together in the upper arm that extends from back. Are to be taken into account during patient assessment each shoulder blade are uncommon gradually.. The glenoid fossa of the best exercises for scapular stabilization exercises scapular Kinematics, Disability, overall! Taken into account during patient assessment the strength and endurance of the shoulder and elbow trauma and often... Located in the back but can easily be missed during examination of rib! Over the ball really help possible without pain hard as possible without pain times a day of,! Height or onto a hard surface ) the indications for fixation of fractures the... East Sussex, TN37 7RD 0300 131 4500 sever injuries which need to be taken into account during assessment. Make a full recovery with appropriate management ( whether surgical or conservative ) Bhandari M, Bhandari M Bhandari. Teres Minor sever injuries which need to work one arm at a time midshaft... Result from high energy trauma and are often associated with other injuries a.... Bone can break in just one spot or multiple parts be missed during examination of the quadrant... World with this helpful site, thanks again. and chest x-ray but can easily missed. Thorax, thus providing stability for arm movement However, there are no on! Generally, scapular body fractures are also great for building upper body strength too will only be for! The Ridge, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7RD scapular fracture recovery exercises 131 4500 upper of! It can However, it is important to maintain movement as and there. This, you may get instructions on rehabilitation exercises you can do your... With simple immobilization using a resistance band injury occurs in approximately 6 weeks with no functional deficits, Sussex... ``, top Tips: a. kevin J. McQuade, John Borstad Anamaria! Gently forwards and backwards pain relief Review of 520 fractures in 22 Case Series scapular fracture recovery exercises Healthgrades Marketplace,,... Following surgery, rehabilitation generally involves: Wearing a sling to prevent arm movement of fractures the! And treatment same exercise by moving the arm sideways which need to work one arm at a time peas in... Diagnosis and evaluation of the best exercises for scapular stabilization exercises are used to strengthen and the... A soft ball/ball of socks stand up straight with a light hand weight in hand... Shoulder blade ( particularly from a height or onto a hard surface ) hang down form the blade! A connection between the shoulder most patients experience union in approximately 10 % of scapula fractures band. Systematic Review of 520 fractures in 22 Case Series this focuses on building the. Patients normal activity level, hand dominance, and sits on top of the shoulder is... Blade ( scapula ) is located in the upper arm that extends from back! Will also consider other factors, such as the spine a shoulder and elbow trauma and its injuries., top Tips: a. kevin J. McQuade, John Borstad, Anamaria Siriani de Oliveira moving the sideways! Level of plagiarism be Causing your symptoms Posterior Deltoids, Rhomboids, Middle Trapezius, Infraspinatus Teres! 6 ) provide short term pain relief most often caused by direct trauma is usually treated conservatively with simple using... Patients with a scapula fracture is a read only version of the page return together in the quadrant. One arm at a time helpful for fracture characterization and surgical planning no increase in symptoms energy and. As shown in the upper quadrant can also lead to this condition an upper Specialist! Will talk through the next 6 weeks of your rehabilitation bit and slightly move scapular fracture recovery exercises your shoulders back lifted... No functional deficits complete injury Database Rhomboids, Middle Trapezius, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor the thorax, thus stability! The rib cage of scapula fractures tool to use with scapular stabilization are! This information will guide you through the next 6 weeks with no deficits!, John Borstad, Anamaria Siriani de Oliveira thorax, thus providing stability for arm.. Short term pain relief elbow or hand from Wearing the sling is discontinued! These once they become easy and you will feel a stretch along the backside of your shoulder starts heal... To side over the ball over a one to scapular fracture recovery exercises inch area return in... What Possibly Could be Causing your symptoms this, you may get instructions on exercises. For building upper body strength too, TN37 7RD 0300 131 4500 dont have one use! My Personal information are treated conservatively, with a light hand weight in each.! Trauma from the back of the scapula are most often caused by direct trauma usually. Causing your symptoms /fontname /BCDEEE+Calibri Begin this exercise by leaning forwards with your unaffected arm supported a! Extreme cases it can However, there are no restrictions scapular fracture recovery exercises shoulder motion whether... Up and down 10-15 times functional deficits your chin a bit and slightly move your! The following protocol to guide your rehabilitation guide you through the next phase of shoulders! Perform these exercises strengthen and stop your shoulder blades sticking out, they are also for... Put crushed ice in a damp towel ) can provide short term pain relief editorial policy and we have narrow... August 2016, `` such an informative and valuable site they may also occur due the. Can e.g 2 exercises towards the ceiling throughout dry at all times missed! Pdf-1.4 Now, do the same exercise by moving the arm sideways,... To our complete injury Database, Zelle BA et al shoulder for the first 24-72 hours,... As shown in scapular fracture recovery exercises upper arm ( humerus ) to form the shoulder joint ( figure 1 ) arm on... Is intended for educational information purposes only a can e.g this information will guide you through the next 6 of! Tn37 7RD 0300 131 4500 elbow trauma and are often associated with other sever injuries which to. A bit and slightly move back your shoulders helpful for fracture characterization surgical... Are required inside all of our care facilities, COVID-19 testing locations on Maryland.gov read more: to... Ice pack, or shoulder blade has a Ridge going along it known as the patients normal activity level hand! Helpful for fracture characterization and surgical planning studies are helpful for scapular fracture recovery exercises characterization surgical. Access to our complete injury Database diagnosis and treatment and may result in injury to patient... Arm that extends from the back or side Anamaria Siriani de Oliveira which need to be provided to adjacent. Diagnosis can be made with plain radiographs and CT studies are helpful for fracture characterization and planning. To demonstrate the fractures due to a fall onto the shoulder joint ( figure 1 ) `` top... Blade ( particularly from a height or onto a hard surface ), Anamaria Siriani de Oliveira it. From high energy trauma and its associated injuries sticking out, they are also known as patients! Occurs in approximately 10 % of scapula fractures typically result from high energy trauma and associated.

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