Acupuncture for hip fracture recovery
After a hip fracture, the goal is to move again, safely and with less pain. Acupuncture supports recovery alongside your medical care.
A hip fracture is a serious injury, most common in older adults after a fall, and recovery is as much about regaining mobility as healing the bone. It's managed medically, but the rehab that follows is where quality of life returns.
Acupuncture has a supportive role here: managing pain with fewer medications, easing the muscle guarding around the hip, and supporting the active rehab that restores movement.
Symptoms we treat
If any of these sound like your experience, acupuncture is worth a conversation. This isn't a diagnosis, your first visit is.
Why acupuncture works here
Three layers at once, local, segmental, and central, chosen for what your body is asking for.
From first visit to plan
Every patient gets the same unhurried four-beat rhythm, the first visit includes a complimentary consultation.
The clinical picture
Hip Fracture is a break in the upper portion of the femur (thigh bone) near the hip joint. It is a serious injury, especially common in older adults, often resulting from falls or trauma. In younger individuals, it usually occurs due to high-impact injuries like car accidents.
Types of Hip Fractures
- Femoral Neck Fracture: Occurs just below the ball of the ball-and-socket hip joint.
- Intertrochanteric Fracture: Occurs further down the femur, between the neck and the shaft of the bone.
- Subtrochanteric Fracture: A rare break below the intertrochanteric region.
Symptoms
- Severe pain in the hip or groin.
- Inability to bear weight on the leg.
- Stiffness, swelling, or bruising around the hip.
- The affected leg may appear shorter or rotated outward.
Causes and Risk Factors
- Falls in older adults, often due to weakened bones from osteoporosis.
- High-impact trauma in younger individuals.
- Risk factors include advanced age, reduced bone density, sedentary lifestyle, and chronic medical conditions.
Diagnosis
- Physical examination.
- Imaging tests like X-rays or CT/MRI scans to confirm the type and extent of the fracture.
Treatment Options
- Non-Surgical:
- Rarely an option, primarily for patients unfit for surgery. Includes bed rest, pain management, and physical therapy.
- Surgical:
- The main treatment for most hip fractures:
- Internal Fixation: Using metal screws, plates, or rods to stabilize the bone, often for less severe fractures.
- Hemiarthroplasty: Replacement of the femoral head with a prosthetic, typically for femoral neck fractures.
- Total Hip Replacement: Replacing both the femoral head and the socket, recommended for severe fractures or pre-existing joint disease.
- Rehabilitation:
- Physical therapy to regain strength, mobility, and balance.
- Occupational therapy to assist with daily activities and prevent future falls.
- Medications:
- Pain relief medications.
- Bisphosphonates or other osteoporosis treatments to strengthen bones.
- Lifestyle Changes:
- Fall prevention strategies (e.g. removing tripping hazards, using assistive devices).
- Nutrition focused on calcium and vitamin D to promote bone health.
Prompt treatment is essential to prevent complications like blood clots, infections, and loss of mobility.