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Physiotherapy vocabulary · Musculoskeletal Conditions

Fracture

Meaning in physiotherapy, with examples

/ˈfræktʃər/nounCore term

In physiotherapy, fracture means: A break or crack in a bone, caused by an injury or, when bones are weak, by a smaller force than usual.

In Turkish: kırık

How it is used

Clinicians say fracture; patients usually say 'broken bone'. Before starting rehab, physiotherapists need to know how the fracture was treated (a cast, or surgery with plates and screws) and what weight-bearing is allowed. Common phrases: 'fractured neck of femur', 'wrist fracture', 'the fracture has healed'.

Example sentences

  1. She fractured her wrist when she slipped on the ice.

  2. After a hip fracture, getting the patient up early is a priority.

Common collocations

  • hip fracture
  • wrist fracture
  • fracture healing
  • stress fracture
  • fractured neck of femur
  • weight-bearingPutting some or all of your body weight through a leg (or arm), especially when the amount allowed is limited after an injury or operation.
  • atrophyA loss of muscle size and strength, most often because a muscle has not been used, for example after time in a cast or in bed.
  • stiffnessA feeling that a joint or muscle is tight and hard to move, often worse after rest or first thing in the morning.
  • crutchesA pair of walking aids that take weight off one or both legs, held either under the armpits or with cuffs around the forearms.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Musculoskeletal Conditions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.