How soon after cast removal can PT start?

Usually within 1–7 days. The longer the joint stays stiff after immobilization ends, the harder it is to recover full motion — early intervention matters.

Will in-home PT work if I'm non-weight-bearing?

Yes — and this is one of the most common reasons families call us. Driving to a clinic on crutches or in a wheelchair is logistically difficult; the DPT brings everything needed to your home.

Do I need to bring x-rays to the evaluation?

It helps if you have them, but it's not required. Our DPT communicates directly with the referring physician for surgical reports, weight-bearing orders, and follow-up imaging plans.

Statewide clinical guide

Post-Fracture & Post-Cast Rehabilitation — In-Home Physical Therapy in Florida

In-home physical therapist working on upper-extremity strength with an older adult in Florida.

After a fracture — whether treated with a cast, a boot, a sling, or open reduction with internal fixation — the bone has usually healed by the time PT starts, but the surrounding soft tissue is significantly compromised. Immobilization produces predictable changes: muscle protein synthesis drops within 24 hours, and skeletal muscle mass can decline by roughly 0.5–1% per day during full disuse[1][2]. Joint capsule shortening, cartilage softening from unloading, and significant loss of proprioception follow. The job of post-fracture PT is to reverse these changes safely while respecting the surgeon's weight-bearing and ROM restrictions.

The window for restoring full function is wider than for soft-tissue injury — bone heals slowly — but the consequences of skipping rehab are larger. CDC data show roughly 1 in 4 adults age 65+ falls each year and falls cause about 95% of hip fractures, with one-year mortality after hip fracture in older adults ranging from 14–58% in the published literature[3][4]. Early progressive resistance training in hip fracture rehab improves function and reduces fall recurrence[5], and AAOS guidelines for distal radius and ankle fractures both endorse early supervised motion and progressive loading once stable[6].

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Common symptoms & presentation

·Marked loss of range of motion in the immobilized joint
·Visible muscle atrophy of the limb
·Swelling that persists after cast or boot removal
·Pain with initial weight-bearing or active motion
·Skin sensitivity or hypersensitivity over the fracture site
·Fear of re-injury (often the most limiting symptom)

By the numbers

0.5–1%
daily muscle mass loss during full disuse
Source [2]
1 in 4
U.S. adults 65+ fall each year (CDC)
Source [3]
~95%
of hip fractures in older adults are caused by falls
Source [3]
14–58%
1-year mortality after hip fracture in older adults
Source [4]

How in-home PT treats post-fracture rehab

Evaluation works directly from the orthopedic surgeon's post-op or post-cast orders: weight-bearing status, ROM restrictions, and any precautions specific to the fixation hardware. The DPT measures baseline ROM, manual muscle test grades (graded around the fracture site), swelling (circumferential measurement), and functional status (gait, transfers, ADLs). Falls-risk screening (Timed Up and Go, 30-second chair stand) is built into every lower-extremity post-fracture evaluation per CDC STEADI guidance[7].

Treatment starts with edema management (compression, elevation, retrograde massage), gentle joint mobilization within the surgeon's parameters, and isometric activation of the muscles around the fracture. As the surgeon clears progression, the program adds AROM, progressive resistance, weight-bearing progression (for lower extremity fractures), and finally proprioceptive and dynamic stability work[5]. Modalities — NMES, ice — are used selectively to support the active program.

Typical recovery timeline

Most post-fracture rehab runs 10 to 18 visits over 6 to 12 weeks. Distal radius and ankle fractures are on the shorter end; tibial plateau, calcaneus, and complex upper-extremity reconstructions are on the longer end. Without rehab after a lower-extremity fracture, older adults lose an average of 10–20% of their pre-fracture functional capacity[3].

When to escalate

These signs are not routine and warrant immediate physician contact or an ER visit.

·Sudden increase in pain or new deformity (rule out hardware failure or non-union)
·Calf swelling, warmth, or tenderness (rule out DVT)
·Wound dehiscence, drainage, or increasing redness (rule out infection)
·Loss of distal pulse, color change, or new numbness in the limb

PIP & MedPay coverage

Florida’s Personal Injury Protection statute requires the initial medical visit within 14 days of the crash. Once that window is met, PT Near Me bills PIP directly for medically necessary in-home rehab and coordinates MedPay as secondary. We do not bill commercial health insurance.

Post-Fracture Rehab PT in your Florida city

We treat post-fracture rehab across 50+ Florida counties. Pick a city to see local hospitals, crash corridors, and PIP notes for that market.

Post-Fracture Rehab FAQ

How soon after cast removal can PT start?: Usually within 1–7 days. The longer the joint stays stiff after immobilization ends, the harder it is to recover full motion — early intervention matters.
Will in-home PT work if I'm non-weight-bearing?: Yes — and this is one of the most common reasons families call us. Driving to a clinic on crutches or in a wheelchair is logistically difficult; the DPT brings everything needed to your home.
Do I need to bring x-rays to the evaluation?: It helps if you have them, but it's not required. Our DPT communicates directly with the referring physician for surgical reports, weight-bearing orders, and follow-up imaging plans.

References & clinical evidence

All statistics on this page are sourced from peer-reviewed journals, clinical practice guidelines, or U.S. government health agencies.

[1]Disuse and Functional Atrophy — review— NIH / StatPearls, 2023
[2]Disuse atrophy: mechanisms and rates of muscle loss— Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition, 2009
[3]Older Adult Falls Data — STEADI— CDC
[4]Hip fracture mortality and outcomes — systematic review— Annals of Internal Medicine, 2010
[5]High-intensity resistance training and home-based rehabilitation after hip fracture (RCT)— JAMA, 2002
[6]AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline — Distal Radius Fractures— AAOS, 2020
[7]STEADI — Older Adult Fall Prevention— CDC

Other conditions we treat

Get a post-fracture rehab patient seen at home — usually within 48 hours.