- Campaign: Promoting evidence-based treatment
- Challenge: Giving life–and hope-to dry-sounding medical terminology
- Audience: Prospective physical therapy patients
In October of 2017, NFL star defensive end JJ Watt of the Houston Texans crashed into an opposing quarterback while attempting a tackle. He was carted off the field on a stretcher with a tibial plateau fracture (TPF).
Watt had suffered a break in a part of his shin bone (tibia). In the past this would be career-ending…but Watt returned to the gridiron within a year. What made this possible?
Recent advances in injury-specific diagnosis and treatment. Close alignment between surgical teams and physical therapists. In short, highly trained teams with a personalized treatment plan.
In the field, we wrap this in the package called evidence-based treatment. But what does that mean for you? Let’s look closely.
- What is a Tibial Plateau Fracture?
- Who Most Is Most Often Afflicted By It?
- How Long is Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery Time?
- How is it treated?
What is a Tibial Plateau Fracture?
Tibial plateau fractures are without doubt a high-damage injury, and need intensive rehab. The tibia is a key bone structure that supports your body weight as you run, walk or jump, the tibia plateau being its upper portion. A fracture of the plateau is caused by a high-energy impact, the kind of injury that can also affect ligaments of the knee, soft tissue and cause other collateral structures.
Suffering a tibial plateau fracture causes pain, swelling, and decreased ability to move the knee.
All that said, JJ Watt returned to the gridiron after a year and is playing again today. And while few of us have the body strength of an elite athlete, you can be optimistic about recovery, working with expert therapists at Park Sports.
Left: NFL star JJ Watt recovered from TPF within a year.
Who Is Most Often Afflicted By a TPF?
At Park Sports we work most often on TPF with people over age 50, who have suffered from falls or other accidents. But younger people, like JJ Watts, may suffer TPF in sports, while skiing, or in motocross, car accidents, and other situations.
With people aged 50 and over, treatment will have as its goal the return to ordinary daily activities, rather than a return to sport. However, if this injury is sports-related, our team of former and current athlete therapists can assist your needs as well.
How Long is Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery Time?
The length of recovery depends largely on whether surgery has been performed. Luckily, in many cases, surgery is not required, but if there is displacement (if the bone has moved) then surgery may be necessary.
Non-displaced tibial plateau fractures take up to 3-4 months without surgery to heal. When surgery is required these cases take around 4 months to heal. After this healing period, Physical Therapy most often continues until at 6 months, a patient is typically able to return to a normal life, albeit with certain limitations.
That is a real milestone, compared to a patient’s first six weeks which are most often on crutches or in a brace. Note that 100% complete recovery, while varied, can take a year or more, and athletes will need sports/specific bodywork during that year. (See below)
Physical Therapy for Tibial Plateau Fracture: How is it Treated?
Over time, your therapist will focus generally on restoring full joint range of motion and activating the leg muscles. But each individual is different, and a custom treatment plan must be developed.
That is why when composing your tibial plateau fracture recovery plan, we confer with you, your doctors and your surgical team to ensure that the plan is uniquely tailored to your needs. Some of what we might incorporate could include manual therapy, kinesiology taping, state-of-the-art strength and conditioning equipment, yoga therapy, and even neuromuscular rehabilitation.
Despite the variations in treating each individual, we can present a general look, based on the clinical data, at what treatment might be expected for a tibial plateau fracture. Again, this is a general timeline. Please keep in mind that it will almost certainly be altered to fit your needs.
Tibial Plateau Fracture Rehab: Weeks 1-6:
Your therapist will begin immediately with steps to reduce inflammation, calm pain, and begin to promote healing. (continues)