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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>How Broken Bones Heal</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/teens/broken-bones-heal.html?WT.ac=pairedLink"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Cómo se curan los huesos rotos</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/broken-bones.html">Broken bones</a> have an amazing ability to heal, especially in young people. New bone forms within a few weeks of the injury, although full healing can take longer.</p></div><div class="rawhtml"><div class="rs_skip rs_preserve"><!-- TinyMCE Fix --><script src="//familysurvey.org/misc/javascript/js_apps/video/kh-video-metadata.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="//familysurvey.org/misc/javascript/js_apps/video/kh-video-controller.js" type="text/javascript"></script><script src="//familysurvey.org/misc/javascript/js_apps/video/single-how-bones-heal-en.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h3>How Do Casts & Splints Help Broken Bones Heal?</h3><p><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/casts.html">Casts</a> and <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/splints.html">splints</a> hold broken bones in place while they heal. New hard bone forms in about 3–6 weeks, and the cast or splint usually can come off.</p><p>After the cast or splint <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cast-care.html">comes off</a>, you may not be ready to return to gym and sports right away. Your <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/bones-muscles-joints.html">muscles</a> may be weak or stiff, and your bone may need more time to get stronger.</p><p>Your doctor may recommend <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/pt.html">physical therapy</a> to help with healing. Often, just time, <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stretching.html">stretching</a>, and regular activity is enough for healing.</p><h3>How Can I Help My Bone Heal?</h3><p>To help your broken bone heal:</p><ul class="kh_longline_list"><li>Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/calcium.html">calcium</a> and <a class="kh_anchor">vitamin D</a>.</li><li>Take good care of the cast or splint.</li><li>Rest and/or do any exercises that your doctor recommends.</li></ul><p>Broken bones are common in teens. Most breaks heal well, and within a few months you'll be back to all the things you did before the injury.</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: January 2023</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. 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All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/broken-bones-first-aid.html?WT.ac=t-ra">First Aid: Broken Bones</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/broken-bones.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Broken Bones</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/splints.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Splints</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/fractures-greenstick.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Greenstick Fractures</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/fractures-comminuted.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Comminuted Fractures</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/stress-fractures.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Stress Fractures</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/casts.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Casts</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/cast-care.html?WT.ac=t-ra">What to Expect When Your Cast Comes Off</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/broken-bones-heal.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=t-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/broken-bones-heal.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-teens-broken-bones-heal.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,8,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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