{"id":11039,"date":"2019-08-25T15:00:59","date_gmt":"2019-08-25T15:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=11039"},"modified":"2021-04-26T20:12:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T20:12:34","slug":"15-common-causes-of-colles-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-common-causes-of-colles-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Common Causes of Colles Fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A Colles fracture may sound like an incident in which a collie dog broke one of their bones. That being said, it actually describes a break in your radius bone. The radius bone is the largest bone in your forearm. It\u2019s also the closest to your wrist which is why it breaks so often whenever you land on your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, it\u2019s actually the most frequently broken bone in your entire hand. There are many things that could cause a Colles fracture, and other risk factors such as gender or age can also increase the odds. As many doctors say, the best cure is prevention. You won\u2019t even need to treat a condition if it never occurs. That being the case, we\u2019re going to take you through eight of the common cause of a Colles fracture so that you can keep a lookout for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Car accidents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Colles fracture<\/a> often occurs whenever an outstretched arm is impacted by some form of blunt trauma. Seeing as that\u2019s the case, you can imagine how car crashes would be a common cause for Colles fractures. When most people drive, their arms are stretched out. Thus, when you come into contact with a telephone pole, incoming car, or what have you, you\u2019re going to experience a lot of force exerted on your radius bone. This is what can cause a fracture in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this is bad, it can be much worse. For instance, it\u2019s favorable to break your radius bone if it means that you\u2019ll get to protect your head. Many car crash fatalities are the result of a cerebral hemorrhage that occurs after the driver\u2019s head impacts the steering wheel. Airbags are designed to help you, but there have been some Colles fractures caused by the impact of the airbag as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Motorcycle accidents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Much like car accidents, motorcycle accidents can also cause a Colles fracture. While the arms of bikers aren\u2019t quite as stretched out as those driving a car \u2014 unless they\u2019re using a Harley Davidson \u2014 they can still be susceptible to a Colles fracture due to the fact that they will instinctively break their fall with their hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a biker is launched into the air after impacting a car, their first instinct will be to stretch out their hands and try to reach for the ground to \u201ccatch themselves\u201d and ensure that their head doesn\u2019t impact the pavement. It\u2019s actually a good way to boost your survival rate, but it can also boost the odds of you suffering from a Colles fracture. When these bikers impact the ground hand-first, most of their weight and momentum fall on the radius bone <\/a>thus fracturing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Skiing accidents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While it may seem surprising, you could also suffer from a Colles fracture due to skiing. While the activity of skiing looks safe due to the soft snow around you at all times, it can actually be rather dangerous with many people being injured \u2014 and some even dying \u2014 while skiing every year. Your arms are usually going to be stretched out whenever you impact the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being the case, if you land from a relatively great height and a lot of force is exerted on your radius bone<\/a> then it may suffer from a Colles fracture. There are certain ways to prevent this from occurring. For one, you could navigate less steep slopes or bend your knees upon landing to reduce the force exerted on your wrist upon impact. Of course, the only surefire way to avoid Colles fractures resulting from skiing is to not ski at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Osteoporosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Osteoporosis <\/a>is a condition that occurs whenever your body can\u2019t generate new bone faster than old bone is being lost. This leads to the bones in the body becoming increasingly brittle and weak. Exercise, dietary improvements, and medical treatment can slow or even halt the progression of osteoporosis. That being said, those who suffer from the condition \u2014 especially in its later stages \u2014 may be more susceptible to Colles fractures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients with osteoporosis will see all their bones weakened, this includes the radius bone. If your radius bone is weakened by osteoporosis then it could easily suffer from a Colles fracture even if the force exerted upon it isn\u2019t that high. Patients who have osteoporosis are advised to avoid any activities that may put high pressure on the wrist area to ensure no Colles fractures occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond osteoporosis, another factor that can increase your odds of suffering from a Colles fracture is age<\/a>. As you get older, your body gets weaker. It\u2019s a sad truth that we need to accept. Modern medicine has been working on slowing that degradation, but it hasn\u2019t been able to offset it entirely yet. Seeing as your body gets weaker over time, those who are older are naturally more susceptible to injuries such as Colles fractures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why ski parks and roller coasters generally have older citizens sign waivers before participating in strenuous activities that may lead to a fracture of their radius bone. Regular exercise can help keep your body strong even as you age. If you want to stave off Colles fractures and other injuries then heading to the gym a few times a week and eating healthy could be your best bet. After all, living healthy is a choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Martial arts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Martial arts<\/a> could also lead to a Colles fracture. In striking arts such as boxing or Muay Thai, your wrist will be enduring high impacts whenever you hit the heavy bag. If you\u2019re predisposed to fractures \u2014 whether due to age, osteoporosis, or both \u2014 then you might suffer a Colles fracture after throwing a hard jab or cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grappling arts could also lead to bone fractures. In disciplines like judo and aikido, you\u2019ll often need to break your fall with an outstretched hand. If your wrist is weak or if you land at an odd angle then this might fracture the radius bone. If you plan on practicing martial arts then ensure that you\u2019re in the proper shape to do so and pay attention to proper form to prevent a Colles fracture. Most martial arts injuries are the result of poor form, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Shower slips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This cause is more common in older patients who suffer from a Colles fracture. When elderly citizens of our nation take a bath, they should be monitored to ensure that they don\u2019t slip and fall. If they fall and land on their wrist then they may suffer from a Colles fracture. There are far worse things that could happen though. If they impact the hard tile with their head then they may suffer from a stroke<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shock of the accident could also lead to a heart attack. Getting rubber pads on the floor of the shower and hiring a nurse to assist them is the best way to ensure that older patients don\u2019t slip and fall while showering. Installing CCTV cameras is advised as some nurses tend to neglect their patients if they aren\u2019t being watched by the person paying their salary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Rickets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rickets is another bone disease that could make someone more vulnerable to Colles fractures. Patients who suffer from rickets will have weak and surprisingly soft bones. This is caused by a lack of calcium and vitamin D. Taking vitamin D<\/a> supplements or getting more sunlight can often slow the progression of rickets. Beyond bone softness, rickets can also cause muscular weakness making the patient more likely to fall down and land on their radius bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those with dark skin are more vulnerable to developing rickets due to the fact that their pigmentation reduces the production of vitamin D even when they\u2019re exposed to sunlight. Those who live up north where there\u2019s less sunlight can also suffer from rickets as they won\u2019t be getting enough vitamin D to keep their bones healthy and strong. If you know that you have rickets then avoid doing any activities that strain your wrist or you might suffer a Colles fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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