Does a fracture heal faster if you walk on it?


Question:
my sister fractured her ankle, and she has on a brace, or a walking cast. she was told that it will heal faster if she walks on it. is it true?

Answers:
well it depends on the type of fracture if it's a hairline fracture then the incressed bloodflow to the site will stimulate bone growth and the recalcification will occur. but, I would only walk on the ankle if directed to do so my the doctor. if the leg is swelling elevate the leg and use ice to reduce the swelling to the site.
No, never walk on a frature, you can rupture the healing bones and create "splints" of bone inside your skin.
Without knowing more specific data, I'd have to reply in the negative. If she has a cast applied by a dr, then the dr must believe that the fracture isn't being pushed apart by the stress of her weight. However, it is my experience that the body is strongest prior to injury. After any injury the site of the damage will never be 100% again. If she has the fracture in a place where it is a "load bearing member" or the fracture is IN-LINE with the weight of her body to the ground, I'd advise her to stay off of it as much as possible, and to avoid all sudden movements whatsoever for a period of time.
She went to a doctor and had xrays right. The doctor would have told her what to do and how to heal the ankle the fastest way.

That's the only person she needs to listen to, or trust!

Anyone here in YouQA.com is just answering a basic question but doesn't have all the facts so it's an unsubstaniated answer.
Most ankle fractures are small avulsion type fractures where the ligament tears off a small chip of bone from the end of the tibia.(the bony knob on the outside of your ankle). This is an inherently stable fracture and while I don't think walking on it necessarily makes it heal faster, it isn't harmful to bear weight on it. Most fractures heal within 4-6 weeks.
I fractured my ankle just a few months ago. I was also told that if I walked on it would heal faster. In my case, this was not true. I had to go back to the doctor, and my fracture had gotten worse. I almost had to have surgery and have screws put into my ankle! Luckily I found a doctor that could fix it by putting a cast on it, and pushing the bone back in. But really, I couldnt walk on it for 2 months, when really, originally it was only going to be a few weeks. So i advise her not to walk on it.
More Questions & Answers...
  • Help i got a problem?
  • Sore tailbone?
  • Headache and stomach ache?
  • Why do I have to deal with pain?
  • Why do people say OUCH when they get hurt?
  • Abdominal pain?
  • How can you heal elbow tedonitus without getting surgey?
  • How do you know if you're getting addicted to painkillers??
  • Oh my! I think i may have pink eye!?
  • The consumer health information on youqa.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
    The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
    Copyright © 2007 YouQA.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

    Health Resources