Our bones change as we age. What was once strong becomes weaker, and there is a higher risk of fractures and broken bones. Our bones are important to our health, as they provide the body with its form and protect your organs. Therefore, keeping your bones healthy is vital. But if you believe common myths circulating your bones, you could be putting them at risk.
Here are five common bone myths that aren’t very true at all.
5 Bone Myths to Stop Believing
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If you can move it, it’s not broken: This refers to the myth after an injury that if you can still move the injured limb, then it’s not broken. In some cases you can move a broken bone, depending on where it broke. Key signs of a broken bone are pain, swelling, and deformity. Another sign may be if you heard a snapping sound.
A broken bone will leave you in agony: There are many stories of people continuing on with their day with a fracture and not even knowing it because they are not in pain. Although broken bones do generally result in pain, a smaller break or fracture may go unnoticed.
Only older white women should be concerned with osteoporosis: Yes, it is true that there is a higher risk of osteoporosis with aging, but weaker bones are more so associated with menopause than age. So, if you go into early menopause, then your bones can start to be at risk. Although rates of white women with osteoporosis double that of black women, no race is immune to weak bones or osteoporosis. Furthermore, black women are less likely to be referred to a specialist, and so numbers may be skewed.
Don’t bother seeing a doctor about a broken toe: It is often believed that nothing can be done if you break a toe, so many of us won’t see our doctor. A broken toe needs to be looked at and assessed in order to determine future complications or deformities. Although you may not be cast, there are other ways your doctor can stabilize your toe in order to reduce complications. A broken toe typically takes four to six weeks to heal.
A healed broken bone is stronger than what it was before: Initially, a healed bone will be stronger as new bone is created to protect it. Over time, that protection wears off, making it as strong as your other bones.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
