The human skeleton is made up of 206 bones. Bones are the hardest material inside our body; they give us form, and muscles help move them so we can walk, run, jump, and, of course, do acrobatics. Our bones are very strong, but unfortunately, somewhat brittle. Older people tend to have more brittle bones than younger people, while newborns have bones that are soft, almost like wax. However, if enough force is applied, bones can break, which is what we call a bone fracture. Find information about common sports injuries on the Injuries Main page.
Our bones are made up of bone cells, proteins, and minerals such as calcium. The strength of a bone depends on its density, size, age, and overall health. The healthier you eat and exercise, the stronger and healthier your bones will be. A young, healthy bone also heals much faster after a fracture.
Sometimes a fracture needs to be realigned before a cast or splint can be applied. The healing process technically begins immediately after the injury, but if the bone is not properly positioned, the doctor may need to break and reset it to ensure proper alignment. Delaying treatment can make this process much more painful.
If the bone is not set by a doctor, you could permanently impair the function of your limb. In some cases, waiting as little as 8 hours can make it necessary to break the bone again to set it properly.
Healing time depends on factors such as the thickness of the bone, age, calcium and vitamin D intake, and overall health. On average, fractures take 3 to 8 weeks to heal. Recovery may take longer if the body is simultaneously healing from other injuries or illnesses.
To help prevent osteoporosis:
Women tend to develop osteoporosis faster than men.
