Broken Legs and Ankles Heal Better If You Walk on Them within Weeks
It turns out the standard advice to stay off a broken leg bone for at least six weeks is based less on scientific evidence and more on cultural caution—physicians like to play it safe. But now studies show that complications are no more likely with early weight-bearing than with a long delay. Except in a few complex cases, walking around earlier helps broken bones heal, and it improves quality of life: for example, people can return to work and other activities faster.
I haven't read the studies yet, but seems interesting. From what I can gather, the hypothesis is that:
- broken bones heal faster upon getting the body moving in reasonable amount
- muscle atrophy is an issue due to possibly months of rest
