The collarbone doesn't completely harden until about age 20 years. This makes younger people -- especially participants in contact sports -- more susceptible to a broken collarbone, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.
The Academy says common symptoms of a broken collarbone include:
- Having a shoulder that droops.
- Being in too much pain to lift one or both arms.
- Feeling a "grinding" as you try to lift an arm.
- Feeling pain when touching the collarbone.
- Detecting an abnormal bump or swelling on the collarbone.
Health Tip: Let a Stress Fracture Heal
A stress fracture is an overuse injury that usually occurs from exercise, such as running.
Fatigued muscles after a while aren't able to absorb the stress of a certain activity, so the bone begins to absorb the impact, resulting in a tiny fracture.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests how to help a stress fracture heal:
- Take a break from the exercise or activity that triggered the stress fracture. Generally, healing takes about six to eight weeks.
- If possible, limit yourself to light activity that doesn't cause pain for your particular fracture.
- Using a brace or shoe insert may help speed healing.
- Don't resume the activity too early, as re-injuring the area could cause an even larger, longer-lasting problem.
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