Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooHand Fracture

A broken hand is a crack or break in one of the bones of the hand: the small bones of the fingers and thumb (phalanges) or the long bones in the palm (metacarpals) (AAOS, n.d.). A hand can be broken by a fall, a crush or twisting injury, or direct contact in sport (AAOS, n.d.). The most common hand fracture is a "boxer's fracture" of the bone in the palm that supports the little finger, which is most often caused by punching or striking a hard object with a closed fist (AAOS, n.d.). Risk factors for broken hands range from taking part in certain sports, such as football, snowboarding or skiing, to having osteoporosis, a condition where the bones become weak and fragile and are more likely to break after a fall (NHS, 2022a).

It is important to have a broken hand treated as soon as possible. When treatment is delayed, a hand fracture becomes harder to treat and does not do as well as fractures that are treated promptly (AAOS, n.d.). If the bones do not heal properly, it can affect everyday activities, such as being able to grip a pen or button your shirt. Early treatment will help to minimise stiffness and pain.

Hand Fracture Anatomy

How a Hand Fracture is Treated

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

Tips

• Taking part in certain sports can increase your chance of breaking your hand. Many people break bones while playing football, basketball, hockey, skiing, snowboarding, wrestling and more.
• If you have osteoporosis, you are more likely to break a bone after a fall than someone with stronger bones (NHS, 2022a).
• Build bone strength with a healthy diet that includes calcium-rich foods. Vitamin D is also important, because it helps your body absorb calcium (NHS, 2022b). Ask your family doctor, nurse practitioner or a pharmacist whether you need a vitamin D or calcium supplement.
• Regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise helps to keep bones healthy (NHS, 2022b).
• Try to avoid slippery surfaces, such as ice- or snow-covered paths.
• Remove trip hazards at home to reduce your chance of a fall (NHS, 2022a), and consider installing grab bars in your bathroom if you are a little unsteady.

After a broken hand, the bone needs to be kept still while it heals, but fingers left still for too long get stiff and swollen. Your medical team decides how long your hand is protected in a cast, splint or buddy strapping, and when you can start using it. I work inside those limits, and if your fracture was treated with surgery or stops you doing your 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, shoulders and forearm, which tense up while one hand is out of action, and the other arm, which takes over
• Gentle lymphatic drainage above the cast or splint, and keeping your hand raised to help with swelling
• Keeping the fingers, thumb, elbow and shoulder moving, as far as your team allows
• If you've been told to buddy strap a finger, I'll show you how to do it yourself

Once Your Team Allows More

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Hand fractures. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/hand-fractures/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
2. North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (2026) Hand therapy – metacarpal fractures. Available at: https://www.nth.nhs.uk/resources/hand-therapy-metacarpal-fractures/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
3. NHS (2022a) Osteoporosis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
4. NHS (2022b) Osteoporosis – prevention. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/prevention/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).