Serial assessment and treatment of a humeral fracture

Clinical problems at the glenohumeral joint, whether chronic or induced by trauma, tend to manifest joint hypomobility with accompanying. muscle weakness. Fractures at the proximal humerus tend to occur more frequently in older patients, but in the presence of violent trauma this injury may occur in the younger patient as well.' The initial treatment often includes some form of immobilization followed by remobilization and muscle strengthening. There is a clinical need to document the sequence and form of physical therapy treatment and quantitatively reflect changes in joint motion and strength. A case study of a patient with a proximal humeral fracture is presented to (a) dezcribe the clinical findings and treatment associated with a shoulder injury, (b) describe and illustrate some methods of assessment and treatment, and (c) report results for joint motion and muscle strength. The hope of the author is that this paper might provide an example of physical therapy evaluation and treatment for such a case and demonstrate a model for expected results. Further, this paper might be used as a teaching model for therapists who are unexperienced with this type of patient.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1980;2(1):25-34.