Mid & Upper Back

What It Is

Mobile, triangular and protected by a complex system of surrounding muscles, the scapula (shoulder blade) isn't broken very often. These fractures account for less than 1 percent of all broken bones (AAOS, n.d.).

High-energy blunt trauma, such as falling from a significant height or being involved in a road traffic collision, can cause a fracture of the scapula. Head injuries, broken ribs, and lung or spinal cord damage can all happen at the same time (AAOS, n.d.).

Scapula Fracture Anatomy

The shoulder blade (scapula) is located in the upper back, and sits on top of the ribs.

The shoulder blade has a ridge running along it known as the spine of the scapula.

There are many muscles that attach around the scapula, most notably the rotator cuff muscles, but also larger muscles such as the trapezius, rhomboids and serratus anterior (Roche et al., 2015).

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

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Scapula Fracture Is Treated

Your treatment will be decided and supervised by your doctor or fracture clinic, so always follow their instructions.

1. Sling

Most scapula fractures are treated without surgery, using a simple sling that holds the shoulder in place while the bone heals (AAOS, n.d.; Pires et al., 2021).

2. Exercises

Your shoulder may feel stiff, so your doctor will usually want you to start moving it early to reduce the risk of stiffness, followed by physiotherapy (AAOS, n.d.; Pires et al., 2021). Your doctor or physiotherapist will tell you when and how to start. People whose fracture does not need surgery can often return to activities in 6 to 8 weeks, but regaining complete shoulder movement may take 6 months to a year (AAOS, n.d.). Once your doctor is happy for you to start, I can support your rehabilitation with hands-on work and exercises to restore movement and strength in your shoulder. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

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

Options outside my scope

Surgery: some fractures, particularly where the bone pieces have moved out of place, need an operation to fix the bone with plates and screws (AAOS, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Easing the neck, upper back and other shoulder while you're in the sling
Hands-on work for shoulder stiffness, once your team is happy
Exercises to restore shoulder movement and strength

Tips

Avoid high-risk activities where you are prone to falling from a height or having a severe force applied to the shoulder.
Whenever taking part in sporting activities, protect your body with proper technique, coaching and equipment.
Take care in activities with a risk of high-speed collisions, such as motor sports, as high-energy impacts are the usual cause of a fractured scapula (AAOS, n.d.).

Treatment

My Approach

A broken shoulder blade usually heals in a sling, but the shoulder stiffens quickly, so moving it at the right time matters. Your doctor or fracture clinic decides how long you're in the sling, when you can move the arm, and whether you need surgery. I work inside those limits. If you had surgery, or the fracture stops you doing your normal daily tasks, I need your surgeon's or doctor'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.

These fractures usually follow a serious accident, so I ask about other injuries and what you've been cleared to do, then assess how your neck, upper back and arm move.

In the Sling

Easing the neck, upper back and other shoulder, which tighten from guarding and awkward sleeping
Gentle lymphatic drainage for swelling in the arm and hand
Keeping your elbow, wrist and hand moving, and gentle shoulder movement when your team allows

As It Heals

Hands-on work around the shoulder blade, including the rotator cuff, trapezius and rhomboids, and scar work once healed if you had surgery
Warm applications for stiffness, but no heat over metal plates or screws
Gentle joint mobilisation for a stiff shoulder once your team says the bone has healed
Shoulder blade control and rotator cuff strength, building to rows, pressing and gym work

Stretching or resistance through the shoulder blade waits until your team confirms it has healed. If pain, swelling or numbness in the arm gets much worse, get urgent medical advice.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: Usually visits are once or twice a week early on, then weekly, then spacing out as you manage more on your own, with a reassessment at about 4 to 6 weeks. Most people whose fracture didn't need surgery get back to activities in 6 to 8 weeks, but full shoulder movement can take 6 months to a year, so we follow your medical team's plan.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Compensation Relief

Swelling Control

Shoulder Mobility

Return to Strength

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Urgent Help

Because scapula fractures usually happen in serious accidents, and other injuries to the head, ribs, lungs or spine are common at the same time (AAOS, n.d.), call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital after this kind of accident.

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Scapula (shoulder blade) fractures. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/scapula-shoulder-blade-fractures/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Pires, R.E., Giordano, V., de Souza, F.S.M. and Labronici, P.J. (2021) 'Current challenges and controversies in the management of scapular fractures: a review', Patient Safety in Surgery, 15, 6. doi: 10.1186/s13037-020-00281-3
Roche, S.J., Funk, L., Sciascia, A. and Kibler, W.B. (2015) 'Scapular dyskinesis: the surgeon's perspective', Shoulder & Elbow, 7(4), pp. 289–297. doi: 10.1177/1758573215595949

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooScapula Fracture

What It Is

Scapula Fracture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Scapula Fracture Is Treated

1. Sling

2. Exercises

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

Tips

My Approach

In the Sling

As It Heals

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Urgent Help

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooScapula Fracture

What It Is

Scapula Fracture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How a Scapula Fracture Is Treated

1. Sling

2. Exercises

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

Tips

My Approach

In the Sling

As It Heals

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Urgent Help

References

Related Conditions

Congenital Scoliosis

Long Thoracic Nerve Palsy

Rib Bruising and Fractures

Scoliosis in Children and Adolescents

Book a session