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Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

scientificamerican.com

101–110 of 342 posts

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the amount of injuries related to mountain biking, is there some specific insurance needed for it? It seems one of those "net-negative for the society activities", like trampolines.

I don't know that "normal" mountain biking is any worse than cycling in general, or sports like tackle football. A lot of the injury risk when mountain biking is reasonably easily mitigated by controlling your speed and walking the bike through terrain that's above your skill level. There was a report out of British Columbia a few months ago about injury rates, and they were high, but BC is also a major downhill trai…

> I know more people with major injuries from being hit by cars

_hit by drivers_, you meant?

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the amount of injuries related to mountain biking, is there some specific insurance needed for it? It seems one of those "net-negative for the society activities", like trampolines.

this is such a wild take to me... it's impossible to quantity at what point something becomes a net negative for society. Smoking seems to be an obvious example, because it's addictive quality inhibits a fair decision to the smoker, and it's something with a lifelong pathology. But trampolines and mountain biking are both activities that result in ephemeral injuries. There is the rare case where a particular injury m…

Don't forget about the alternatives. Is mountain biking worse than watching movies - biking will of course have more injuries, but it also builds physical fitness and so long term is probably better for you. (or maybe just my anti-movie bias is showing?)

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the amount of injuries related to mountain biking, is there some specific insurance needed for it? It seems one of those "net-negative for the society activities", like trampolines.

this is such a wild take to me... it's impossible to quantity at what point something becomes a net negative for society. Smoking seems to be an obvious example, because it's addictive quality inhibits a fair decision to the smoker, and it's something with a lifelong pathology. But trampolines and mountain biking are both activities that result in ephemeral injuries. There is the rare case where a particular injury m…

Controversial take: On a population level, the negatives of smoking are at least partially mitigated by the "smoking suppresses obesity" side effect. Obesity is such a huge (pun not intended) public health issue in modern American society that any intervention reducing it is actually quite valuable.

It's at least arguable and perhaps even true that we as a society would be better off if everybody used tobacco at 1950's rates and therefore got skinnier, especially if we all just dipped Zyns or similar smokeless "low harm" nicotine formats instead of smoking.

That said, I personally use 0 tobacco/nicotine etc.

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#104

from https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/fo... ... After a heroic research effort that took 2.5 years and 500,000 euros, he and his colleagues had managed to shepherd a large group of frail, elderly subjects through a six-month strength-training program. Those who had taken a daily protein supplement managed to pack on an impressive 2.9 pounds of new muscle. Success! Old people could be strong!…

Some good videos on Starting Strength of what they have done for older people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekJOT0kn5vs (Such as the 86 year old lady in the video).

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#105
post #3

The pathology for broken collar bones was changing right as I took up mountain biking, and subsequently shattered my collarbone. It was hotly debated at the hospital, if my specific case should be operated on or not. Each time I had a checkup, one doctor would say "wait and see" while the other was saying "I can't believe we didn't operate on this". At any rate, the outcome was as good as if they had operated on it,…

Given the amount of injuries related to mountain biking, is there some specific insurance needed for it? It seems one of those "net-negative for the society activities", like trampolines.

I'm all in behind your idea: let's do the net result for society of every activity, and mandate people to do the most positive one, while banning the most negative ones!

The good thing is, then, I'll be mandated to go mountainbiking instead of staying sitted in front of a computer all day long!

How can I vote for your program?

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know that "normal" mountain biking is any worse than cycling in general, or sports like tackle football. A lot of the injury risk when mountain biking is reasonably easily mitigated by controlling your speed and walking the bike through terrain that's above your skill level. There was a report out of British Columbia a few months ago about injury rates, and they were high, but BC is also a major downhill trai…

> I know more people with major injuries from being hit by cars _hit by drivers_, you meant?

Well, it was the car that touched them. But yeah, the driver was at fault in ALL instances.

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#107
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People slip in the shower so lets stop bathing.

We probably should have lanyard-equipped showers.

people will hang themselves on the lanyard and die. Not all such cases will be suicide.

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#108
post #32

Oh this is so bad: > In the 19th century German surgeon and anatomist Julius Wolff recognized that healthy bones adapt and change in response to the load placed on them. That is why everyone—but especially women, who are more susceptible than men to osteoporosis—should lift weights as they age No, weight lifting won't improve bone density, it's running that will edit: https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bon…

It's my understanding that weight lifting is superior to running for increasing bone density but that both together are superior to any one singular. Makes me think about a Mark Rippetoe article from several years back he helps an older woman (60? 80s?) eliminate her lower back pain with weight lifting and strength training exercises. Rippetoe isn't pefect, but he has a good-enough track record on this stuff. I had a…

You can see one of his coaches helping an 86 year old woman deadlift in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekJOT0kn5vs

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#109
post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean so we don't make a generally good recommendation because one pro wrestler got their foot amputated? The fact that general medical guidance isn't tailored to you shouldn't come as a surprise. Whether you take it or not is up to you.

I mean so we don't make a generally good recommendation because one pro wrestler got their foot amputated? Please try to converse in good faith. The fact that general medical guidance isn't tailored to you shouldn't come as a surprise. In general, doctors treat people, not ailments.

> Please try to converse in good faith.

Can you just trot that out when you don't like that the other person thought your point was ridiculous?

If you are able to say that the majority of people are bad candidates for POLICE over RICE then I'd engage with that. But it feels unlikely that you can do this because the prevailing medical wisdom seems to be that the majority of people are good candidates for POLICE over RICE.

I will acknowledge that if a patient is a drug-addled professional wrestler who is desperate for a burger then yes perhaps they should just stay off the foot.

Re: Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

#110
post #32

Oh this is so bad: > In the 19th century German surgeon and anatomist Julius Wolff recognized that healthy bones adapt and change in response to the load placed on them. That is why everyone—but especially women, who are more susceptible than men to osteoporosis—should lift weights as they age No, weight lifting won't improve bone density, it's running that will edit: https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bon…

Further down that page it actually says:

"Progressive muscle resistance training is the best type of muscle-strengthening exercise for your bones. It involves using weights or resistance bands to build up the work for your muscles to do over time. You do this by gradually increasing the weight you lift, in a slow and controlled way. As you train, you’ll find the movements get easier as your muscles get stronger."

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