Elbow, Wrist & Hand

What It Is

When you bend your elbow, it's easy to feel the tip of it. This bony point is called the olecranon, and it is part of the ulna, one of the two bones of the forearm. It sits just under the skin with only a thin layer of tissue covering it, so it has little protection (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). A direct blow to the bone or a fall onto the elbow can cause it to break (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2023).

Elbow (Olecranon) Fracture Anatomy

Three bones join together to form the elbow joint. The bone in the upper arm is called the humerus. Two bones from the forearm, the radius and the ulna, make up the lower part of the joint (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). All of the bones have a distinct shape. Ligaments, tendons and muscles help hold everything in proper alignment.

The elbow is mainly a hinge joint. The olecranon cups the lower end of the humerus to create the hinge, which lets the elbow bend and straighten, known as flexion and extension. The elbow is also important for rotation of the forearm, which allows the palm to turn up and down, known as supination and pronation (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Elbow fractures are very painful. Olecranon fractures are most often caused by falling directly onto the elbow, a direct blow from something hard, or falling onto an outstretched arm, when the triceps muscle can pull a piece of bone off the olecranon (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). The bone may crack slightly or break into many pieces (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). Many olecranon fractures need surgery (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Signs of a fracture include sudden, intense pain, not being able to move the elbow, swelling and bruising around the elbow, tenderness, numbness in one or more fingers, and a feeling that the elbow is going to pop out (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team

Options outside my scope

Splint, sling or brace: if the pieces of bone have not moved out of place, the fracture can sometimes be treated without surgery, using a splint or brace to hold the elbow while it heals. You will have X-rays to check the bone has not shifted (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 2023).
Surgery: usually recommended if bone has broken through the skin, if the pieces have moved out of place in young, healthy people, or if the joint is unstable. The most common operation puts the bone pieces back into position and holds them with wires, pins, screws or plates (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Easing the neck, shoulder and upper back while the arm is protected
Help with swelling, stiffness and scar tissue once your team allows
Exercises to regain elbow movement and strength, within your team's limits

Your fracture team will tell you when you can start moving your elbow and what you can lift, push or pull. Always follow their instructions (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Rehabilitation

Once your fracture team clears you, I can support the exercises they give you with hands-on work for stiffness and scar tissue, and help you rebuild movement and strength. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

Whether or not you have surgery, full recovery needs a good effort at rehabilitation. If the elbow has been in a splint or cast for a long time, it can become quite stiff, and physical therapy may be needed to regain movement. After surgery, exercises to improve movement often begin soon after the operation, as directed by your team (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). Your doctor or physical therapist will give you exercises to improve your range of motion, reduce stiffness and strengthen the muscles. These exercises only make a difference if they are done regularly, as directed (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Tips

Try to avoid landing directly on the elbow to prevent fracturing it.
Being struck with a hard object, such as a baseball bat, or hitting the dashboard or car door in a car accident can fracture the elbow (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Olecranon fractures usually happen on their own, but they can be part of a more complex elbow injury (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Even once the fracture has healed, you may not regain full range of motion in the elbow, most often the ability to fully straighten it, although losing a few degrees does not usually affect how well the arm works (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). So it is vital to do your exercises at the right time so that you do not lose range of movement.
Range of movement after the fracture depends on three factors: 1) changes in the structure of the joint, which can disrupt how the bones move against each other; 2) secondary stiffness or scar tissue adhesions stiffening the elbow; 3) a lack of rehab exercises after surgery or the fracture, meaning the elbow gets very stiff.
Most people can return to their normal activities within about 4 months, although full healing can take more than a year, and recovering strength often takes longer than expected (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). Work closely with your physiotherapist and with me to regain as much movement as possible.
Some people get irritation from the metal implants used to fix the fracture, and some develop arthritis in the joint after the injury (post-traumatic arthritis) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Treatment

My Approach

A broken elbow has to heal in a safe position, but an elbow kept still for long can become very stiff. Your fracture team decides when you can move it and what you can lift, push or pull. I work inside those limits, and if you had surgery, or the fracture stops you doing normal daily activities, I need your team's okay before any hands-on treatment.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

While It's Protected

Easing the neck, shoulder and upper back that work overtime protecting the arm
Keeping your shoulder, wrist and hand moving
Gentle lymphatic drainage and elevation to help with swelling, away from any wound
Going over the gentle elbow movements your team has allowed

Once Your Team Allows More

Hands-on work for the forearm and upper arm, and around the scar once it has healed
Gentle, sustained stretching at the end of range; straightening is often the hardest to get back
Gentle joint mobilisation only once your team confirms the bone has healed
Light strength work, building to heavier gym-based work later
Warm applications to loosen stiff tissue, but never directly over metal implants

If you have increasing pain or swelling, wound changes, numb or tingling fingers, or a cold or pale hand, contact your fracture team straight away.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: While the elbow is protected, visits are usually about weekly; once your team lets you move it, once or twice a week, then weekly, then spacing out with a reassessment at about 4 to 6 weeks. Most people return to normal activities within about 4 months, though full healing can take more than a year and strength often takes longer, at the pace your team sets.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Compensation Relief

Swelling & Scar Care

Regaining Elbow Movement

Gradual Strength

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Emergency Help

If you think you have broken your elbow, get it checked straight away. Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital, especially if bone is poking through the skin or there is a wound over the injury (an open fracture, which needs urgent treatment to prevent infection), or if your fingers are numb or your hand is cold or pale (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Elbow (olecranon) fractures. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/diseases--conditions/elbow-olecranon-fractures/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2023) Discharge advice: olecranon fracture. Available at: https://sfh-tr.nhs.uk/media/1rihwz3e/pil202310-01-of-olecranon-fracture.pdf (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooElbow (Olecranon) Fracture

What It Is

Elbow (Olecranon) Fracture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team

Rehabilitation

Tips

My Approach

While It's Protected

Once Your Team Allows More

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Emergency Help

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooElbow (Olecranon) Fracture

What It Is

Elbow (Olecranon) Fracture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team

Rehabilitation

Tips

My Approach

While It's Protected

Once Your Team Allows More

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Emergency Help

References

Related Conditions

Bennett's Fracture

Boutonniere Deformity of the Finger

Carpal Bone Fracture

Colles' Fracture

Book a session