It goes without saying that there are a lot of bones in the human body that could potentially be broken: 206, to be exact.

Some of us are lucky enough to go through life without ever suffering an injury to any of the most commonly broken bones. But for many of us, chances are we’ll experience a break to a commonly broken bone at some point in our lives.

What is the easiest bone to break?

While any bone in our body can be broken, there are some bones that are easier to break than others. That being said, there is no single easiest bone to break. Instead, there is a group of the most commonly broken bones that you could suffer in the event of a personal injury.

When it comes to the most common broken bone, the following five are the ones that occur most often due to accidents:

• Clavicle
• Arm
• Wrist
• Hip
• Ankle

That’s not to say that other bones may not be broken in the event of an injury, just that there is an increased likelihood that it could be one of these five.

Why are these the easiest bone to break in the body?

The primary cause for the breaking of bones is extreme or sudden pressure on the affected area, typically involving the twisting of the bone in some way. As the five bones we’ve previously mentioned are all located in areas that experience pressure regularly, it’s unsurprising they’re more likely to break than other bones.

Collarbone / clavicle

The clavicle, more commonly known as the collarbone, is statistically the most common broken bone in the body. It’s also the most common fracture suffered by children.

Any accidents, from a road traffic accident to accidents in the workplace, can result in the break of this most common broken bone, but an injury to the clavicle can happen beginning from birth; with fractures making up several birth injuries.

What makes the clavicle the most common broken bone in the body when it comes to accidents is the fact that most people will put their arms out in front of them when falling. This applies maximum pressure to the clavicle, which can cause it to break.

Arms

Arm fractures are also another common fracture and break type, particularly the Humerus and Ulna bone. They are the second most commonly broken bone in children and make up almost half of the fractures in adults. A break to the arm occurs in much the same way as a break to the clavicle, as do breaks to the wrist.

Wrists

As for wrists, they are the most commonly broken bone in people under the age of 75, since they’re most often caused by physical activity like sports injuries. If older people do sustain a wrist fracture, it’s usually because they suffer from osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become thin and brittle.

Hips

When it comes to leg injuries, broken hips are the most commonly broken bone in people over 65; accounting for 90% of all hip fractures. Hip fractures often require surgery to “pin” the edges of the fracture back together, but a severe fracture sometimes requires a total hip replacement. Landing hard on your hip from a fall is typically the most common reason for hip breaks.

Ankles

Lastly, ankles are also prone to breakage with surprising regularity. However, with an ankle injury, it can sometimes be difficult to know if a break has occurred, as even a sprained ankle can be very painful and prevent the sufferer from walking.

As well as the more obvious breaks, ankles can sustain stress fractures, which are when the bone cracks as a result of repeated pressure on it but doesn’t break entirely.

What are the most painful bones to break?

While the previous breaks we’ve mentioned might sit as the easiest bones to break, not all of them fall under the range of most painful bones to break. Some bones are so important that when we break them our body tells us immediately, but for others, it’s simply difficult not to apply pressure to them whilst they’re healing.

When it comes to the most painful bones to break, the following three are considered particular painful injuries to suffer in an accident:

• Femur
• Tailbone
• Ribs

The Femur is often put at the top of the most painful bones to break. Your Femur is the longest and strongest bone in your body, running from your hip to your knee. Given its importance, it’s not surprising that breaking this bone is an incredibly painful experience, especially with the constant weight being put on it.

The tailbone, on the other hand, while difficult to break, can also be particularly painful if damaged; more for the fact that pressure is often applied to it while sitting for recovery.

Rib injuries also fall into much the same category. Even bruises to your ribs can be exceedingly painful, but a break can often be excruciating due to the constant chest pressure from breathing, and potential internal injuries caused by the rib when it breaks.

How to tell if you’ve broken a bone

While a common term for a broken bone is a break, the more commonly used medical term is a fracture. There are three main types of fracture, each constituting a different kind of break:

• Hairline fractures
• Simple fractures
• Compound fractures

Each type of fracture has a different recovery period; hairline fractures tend to heal relatively quickly and easily due to it not being a full break in the bone. Simple fractures also tend to heal quickly but can sometimes require further treatment if the break is more complex.

Compound fractures are the most serious type of break and can take a long time to heal. If they’re exceedingly complex, they may even require physiotherapy, surgery. or skin grafts to repair the bone’s surrounding tissue.

It’s usually fairly obvious when you’ve broken a bone, but not all breaks are as clear as others. I’ve you’ve simply fractured a bone; you may not even realise it until much later.

The three most common signs of a broken bone are pain, swelling, and deformity around the area in question. Not all of these signs are required for a bone to be classified as broken, but a least one is often an indication of serious injury.

If you’re unsure if you’ve broken a bone, you should seek out the correct treatment regardless as soon as possible to avoid serious infection or a permanent deformity.

In many cases, breaking a bone is an unavoidable consequence of everyday life. But if you’ve suffered an arm injury or leg injury due to someone else’s negligence, you might be able to make a personal injury claim. Get in touch with our expert team today to find out how much you could potentially claim for.

With sport and physical activity being such a huge part of so many Brits’ lives, it’s important to raise awareness of how to exercise safely. We’ve surveyed 1,000 gym users, to reveal the most common exercise-related injuries and which pieces of gym equipment pose the most danger. As well as this, we’ve also teamed up with Senior Private Physiotherapist Ann Kuan, to provide top tips to keep safe during your next workout.

What are the most common exercise-related injuries?

As far as gym injuries go, there’s no body part that’s more susceptible to discomfort than your knees. With a whopping 17.3% of post-gym pain attributed to knee injuries, it’s always worth taking the time to perfect your form and make sure you’re not overextending yourself!

The next most frequently injured area of the body are the shoulders (11.5%). The reasons for this are varied, and depend heavily on the type of exercise and activity you’re performing. However, the likelihood is that pain has arisen through strains (40.0%) and sprains (39.3%), which are the two most common types of injury, followed by internal damage (9.6%), contusions (8.1%), and dislocations (8.1%).

Ankle injuries (9.3%) are the third most commonly experienced injury by gym-goers, followed by lower torso pain (6.3%). Meanwhile, a body part likely involved in many stages of your gym routine, it’s the wrists (6.0%) that are the fifth most damaged body part suffered by regular exercisers.

Which gym machines are the most dangerous?

Taking the top spots as the two pieces of gym equipment that pose the most danger, with around a quarter of all injuries attributed to each of these types of workout, we have the weight rack (25.4%) and treadmill (25.0%). Both are likely as a result of individuals pushing themselves before they’re ready to progress, highlighting the importance of steady improvement.

Next up, it’s the bikes, which contribute to 17.1% of all gym-related injuries, from strains and sprains to overexertion, while the cross trainer (15.3%) and pull-up bar (15.2%) complete the top five most dangerous pieces of exercise equipment.

Five top tips to avoid injury at the gym

Many Brits have recently incorporated exercise into their regular routines. And while this is beneficial for mental and physical health, it’s important to take the appropriate steps when trying out something new. Senior Private Physiotherapist at Vita Health Group Ann Kuan gives her top tips to avoid injury at the gym.

1. Commit to a warm up

Before starting any type of exercise, it’s important to warm up with dynamic stretches. These are active movements that puts your body through a range of motions, and accomplishes flexibility of the muscle groups you’ll be using. Benefits include far fewer injuries, as well as achieving greater power and a more efficient workout.

2. Progress at a steady pace

If you’re trying to increase the amount of exercise you do, whether to lose weight or build muscle, be sure to only raise the frequency and intensity at a steady pace that your body can handle. The key here is to gradually improve your volume over time, and don’t be afraid to drop back down a little if you’re suffering niggles. Pushing your body too hard and too quickly can be harmful, and cause long-term injury.

3. Rank your pain level and modify

If you experience discomfort while exercising, take a moment to ask yourself how bad it is; can you still perform normal activities or is your everyday life being affected? It’s important to seek medical assistance immediately if your injury is impacting your daily routines, but, if pain is mild, consider trying a lower intensity workout for a while. Additionally, consider also using ice, heat, or relief balms to get the pain under control.

4. Avoid sitting for hours on end

No matter how fit and strong you are, back pain is common in even the most sedentary actions. For instance, working from the kitchen table, sofa, or even your bed are far from beneficial for your posture. Even sitting at a desk for long periods of time can have negative consequences. The best ways to avoid back pain are to take advice on ergonomic set-up solutions and get up for multiple breaks throughout the day.

5. Don’t forget self-care

Among the most important tips to avoid gym-related injuries is to practice self-care! If you’re suffering from a little discomfort, worry and stress can exacerbate the pain. If you’re unsure as to the extent of any damage, it may be beneficial to visit a professional to seek clarification. Otherwise, following self-care habits like mindfulness and meditation can help to reduce anxiety and even alleviate physical pain.

Regular exercise is a great way to improve your mental and physical health, but it’s important that you know how to keep safe. For even more helpful guidance and advice, check out the latest over on our blog.

Every September, many young people head to university. For most, it is their first experience of living independently and away from their family home. Whilst this can be an exciting time in a young person’s life, there are certain things that can worry young people. One aspect of living away from parents for the first time that may worry young people is accidents in student accommodation.

In any rented accommodation, a landlord has a duty of care to protect their tenants and keep them safe from harm in the property. This includes those living in student accommodation.

Accidents in Student Accommodation due to Landlord Negligence

Your landlord has a duty of care to protect you from injury whilst living in a rented property. If you have had an accident due to a defect in the property, it is likely that your landlord may be responsible. This is especially true if you have previously reported it to them and they have not done anything to rectify it. This includes accidents in student accommodation.

Protection for Tenants

Often, student accommodation consists of unrelated occupiers living independently from one another and sharing the common areas of the building, such as a kitchen, living area or shared corridors. The responsible person for the building (usually the landlord) will need to have a Fire Risk Assessment carried out in these communal areas.

The risk assessor will also look at whether there has been sufficient communication with the students regarding fire safety within in communal areas, their individual flat entrance doors, and what to do in the event of a fire. The landlord should ensure that a fire evacuation plan is put in place and is communicated to the students.

Your landlord is also required by law to follow the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. There are strict rules in this act that protect tenants. The Act states that your landlord is responsible for making sure your home is safe and properly maintained. This is both on the inside and outside. Landlords must provide a building that:

• Is safe to live in, free from damp, and well ventilated
• Can withstand normal weather conditions and normal use by tenants and visitors
• Is in a reasonable state of repair inside and outside

If your landlord fails to meet any of these requirements, accidents in student accommodation can happen. If you suffer as a result of their negligence, they have failed in their duty. Because of this, you may be able to claim compensation.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes accidents in student accommodation. So contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.