Humerus Fracture (Broken Shoulder)

A humerus fracture near the shoulder is often called a broken shoulder. It usually involves the upper part of the arm bone where it forms the ball of the shoulder joint. This region is also known as the proximal humerus.

These injuries are common after a fall onto the arm or side of the body, especially in older adults or people with weaker bones. A humerus fracture can also happen during sport, road accidents or heavy impacts at work. Early assessment and a clear treatment plan help protect the healing bone and reduce long-term stiffness.

What Is a Humerus Fracture?

The humerus is the long bone that runs from your shoulder to your elbow. When the bone breaks near the shoulder joint it is called a proximal humerus fracture. This is a type of shoulder fracture.

The break may be simple, with the bone still lined up, or more complex, with several pieces or a change in alignment. Your X-rays and scans allow your doctor to decide whether the fracture can be managed in a sling or whether surgery is more suitable.

Common Causes

A humerus fracture usually follows a clear incident, such as:

• Falling onto an outstretched hand or directly onto the shoulder.
• Sporting collisions or tackles.
• Trips and falls on stairs or uneven ground.
• Road traffic accidents.
• Low-impact falls in people with osteoporosis or low bone strength.

Some people already have shoulder pain from conditions such as rotator cuff tendinopathy or shoulder impingement. A fall can then cause both soft tissue injury and a fracture at the same time.

Signs and Symptoms

Typical symptoms of a humerus fracture include:

• Sudden shoulder pain after a fall or impact.
• Inability or reluctance to lift the arm.
• Swelling, bruising and tenderness around the shoulder and upper arm.
• A change in shape or contour of the shoulder.
• Grinding or movement between the broken bone ends when the arm moves.

Seek urgent medical help if you notice:

• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand or arm.
• A very pale, cold or blue hand or fingers.
• Breathing difficulty or chest pain after a high-speed injury.

These features can suggest nerve, blood vessel or chest injuries that need prompt hospital care.

Diagnosis and Scans

Doctors diagnose a humerus fracture with a combination of your injury history, physical examination and imaging. An X-ray is usually the first and most important test. It shows the location of the break, the angle of the bone segments and whether the fracture extends into the joint surface.

Sometimes further imaging is requested, such as:

• CT scan to better assess complex fracture patterns.
• MRI or ultrasound if there is concern about associated soft tissue injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear.

Your doctor will also check nearby joints, your neck and any other painful areas to make sure there are no additional injuries.

Treatment Options for a Humerus Fracture

Treatment aims to protect the fracture while it heals and to restore comfortable shoulder movement. The main options are non-surgical and surgical care.

Non-Surgical (Conservative) Treatment

Many humerus fractures can heal well without surgery. Common components of conservative care include:

• Collar and cuff sling: This supports the wrist and allows the elbow to hang. The weight of the arm helps keep the fracture aligned. A triangular sling is less suitable because it can push the humerus upwards.
• Pain management: Your doctor may suggest medication or other pain strategies in the early weeks.
• Activity modification: Heavy lifting, overhead activity and falls risk need to be reduced while the bone repairs.

Many people wear the sling for about six weeks, although the exact time varies with the fracture pattern and medical advice. Your symptoms and follow-up X-rays guide any changes to your plan.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery may be recommended if the fracture is very displaced, involves the joint surface or is unlikely to stay in a good position with a sling alone. Common operations include plates and screws, intramedullary nails or, in some cases, partial shoulder replacement.

After surgery, you will usually use a sling for a period while the surgical repair and bone heal together. Post-operative physiotherapy then guides your progression from gentle movement to strengthening and function.

How Physiotherapy Helps

Physiotherapy plays a key role once the fracture has been stabilised and your doctor is happy for you to start moving. Goals and exercises change across the stages of recovery.

• Early stage – maintain hand, wrist and elbow movement; prevent shoulder stiffness within your safe range; support pain management and sling use.
• Middle stage – restore shoulder range of motion with guided exercises; begin light strengthening when the bone is strong enough; improve posture and shoulder blade control.
• Late stage – build strength, endurance and confidence for work, sport and daily tasks; address any balance or falls risks.

Your physiotherapist can design an individual program and may draw on post-fracture physiotherapy, shoulder pain physiotherapy and musculoskeletal physiotherapy approaches. If returning to sport, sports injury physiotherapy can help tailor your exercises to game demands.

Recovery Timeframes

Bone healing for a humerus fracture usually takes about six to twelve weeks. Shoulder strength and movement can then progress for several months. Recovery is influenced by:

• Your age and general health.
• Fracture location and complexity.
• Whether surgery was required.
• How consistently you follow your rehabilitation plan.

Driving

Most people can drive again when they are out of the sling, off strong pain medication and able to control the steering wheel in an emergency stop. For many humerus fractures this occurs around eight weeks, but you should confirm timing with your doctor, insurer and local road rules.

Work

Desk-based roles may resume once pain is controlled and you can safely travel to work, sometimes within two to four weeks. Manual or overhead work often needs longer, and a graded return is common.

Sport and Exercise

Light lower-limb exercise, such as walking or stationary cycling, is often possible early, as long as balance and safety are managed. Upper-limb sport usually resumes later when strength and confidence improve. Your physiotherapist can guide each step so that training does not overload the healing bone.

Day-to-Day Tips

These suggestions may make everyday life safer and more comfortable while your humerus fracture heals:

• Sleeping: Many people find it easier to sleep on their back with pillows behind the shoulder and under the forearm. Avoid lying directly on the injured side until your physiotherapist or doctor advises it is safe.
• Washing and dressing: You may temporarily remove your sling for hygiene and clothing changes when allowed by your doctor. Let the arm hang and use gentle pendulum movements rather than lifting the shoulder actively in the early phase.
• Falls prevention: Wear supportive footwear, clear trip hazards at home and use handrails when available.
• Smoking: Avoid smoking, as it is linked with slower bone healing.

Possible Complications

Most humerus fractures heal well. However, some people develop problems such as:

• Ongoing stiffness or frozen shoulder.
• Persistent weakness or discomfort around the shoulder.
• Malunion, where the bone heals in a less ideal position.
• Associated rotator cuff or joint surface injuries.

Regular review with your doctor and physiotherapist helps detect these issues early. If your pain is increasing, your movement is not improving or your function is declining, further assessment is important.

When to Seek Help

Contact your doctor or attend urgent care if you notice:

• Sudden increase in pain, swelling or deformity after a new incident.
• Numbness, weakness or colour change in your hand or fingers.
• Fever, wound redness or discharge after surgery.

Your physiotherapist can also reassess your progress and adjust your exercise plan if recovery seems slower than expected.

What to Do Next

A humerus fracture can feel daunting, but many people return to usual activities with a structured plan. If you have recently injured your shoulder or feel unsure about your rehabilitation, a consultation with a physiotherapist can clarify your stage of healing and outline the next steps.

Together with your doctor or surgeon, your physiotherapist can guide your pain relief, movement, strength and confidence so that your shoulder works as well as possible for your day-to-day life.

Research & References

Recent research supports structured rehabilitation and careful decision making between surgical and non-surgical care for proximal humerus and shoulder fractures:

• Budharaju A, Hones KM, Hao KA, et al. Rehabilitation protocols in proximal humerus fracture management: a systematic review. JSES Int. 2023;7(5):937-949. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11437559/
• Challoumas D, Minhas H, Bagni S, Millar NL. Early versus delayed mobilisation for nonsurgically treated proximal humerus fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025;26:203. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11866563/
• Østergaard HK, Rasmussen S, Cronholm PF, et al. Supervised vs unsupervised exercises after nonsurgical proximal humerus fracture: randomised trial. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024;33(5):994-1003. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38311103/
• Hohmann E, Keough N, Glatt V, Tetsworth K. Surgical treatment is not superior to nonoperative treatment for displaced proximal humerus fractures: meta-analysis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2023;32(5):1105-1120. Available from: https://www.jshoulderelbow.org/article/S1058-2746%2823%2900055-1/abstract
• Le Thai V, et al. Driving after surgical treatment of proximal humerus fractures. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40816414/

Your physiotherapist can interpret this research in the context of your specific humerus fracture and overall health.

Related Articles

• Post-Fracture Physiotherapy: Rehabilitation services to promote healing and regain strength following fractures, including humerus fractures.
• Shoulder Pain: Information on common causes of shoulder pain, including muscle tightness, weakness and movement control issues.
• Rotator Cuff Injury: Symptoms and management of rotator cuff injuries that can accompany or follow shoulder trauma.
• Physiotherapy for Shoulder Pain: How physiotherapy can ease discomfort, improve mobility and support shoulder health.
• Rotator Cuff Tear: Causes, symptoms and treatment options for tears of the shoulder tendons.
• Rotator Cuff Exercises: Exercise suggestions to strengthen shoulder tendons and improve control.
• Shoulder Impingement: Discussion of impingement symptoms and treatment strategies to manage flare-ups.
• Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: Explanation of tendon overload and pain around the shoulder.
• Sports Injury Physiotherapy: Care for sports-related injuries, including fractures, with a focus on safe return to activity.
• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy: Assessment and treatment for joint, muscle and tendon conditions relevant to shoulder fracture recovery.

Shoulder Supports & Comfort Products

Many people with a humerus fracture benefit from supportive pillows, braces and comfort products to position the shoulder well and make everyday tasks easier. Your physiotherapist can recommend options that suit your stage of recovery.

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