Broken bones 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. How Do Casts & Splints Help Broken Bones Heal? Casts and splints 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. After the cast or splint comes off, you may not be ready to return to gym and sports right away. Your muscles may be weak or stiff, and your bone may need more time to get stronger. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help with healing. Often, just time, stretching, and regular activity is enough for healing. How Can I Help My Bone Heal? To help your broken bone heal: Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Take good care of the cast or splint. Rest and/or do any exercises that your doctor recommends. 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. Back to Articles Related Articles Broken Bones Bones are tough stuff - but even tough stuff can break. Find out what happens when a bone fractures. Read More First Aid: Broken Bones A broken bone requires emergency medical care. Here's what to do. Read More Casts This article for teens has tips on taking care of a cast so it keeps working as it should. Read More Splints A splint is a support device that keeps an injured area from moving. Doctors often use splints to hold bones and joints in place so they can heal after a fracture. Read More Broken Collarbone (Clavicle Fracture) A broken collarbone is one of the most common types of broken bones. Find out how it can happen - and how to treat and avoid fractures. Read More Stress Fractures It's not always easy to tell if you have a stress fracture, and stress fractures can get worse quickly. This article explains how to prevent and treat them. Read More What to Expect When Your Cast Comes Off You probably can't wait to get back to your normal activities, but it takes a while for a limb that's been in a cast to finish healing. Here's what to expect. Read More Bones, Muscles, and Joints Our bones, muscles, and joints form our musculoskeletal system and enable us to do everyday physical activities. Read More Buckle Fractures A buckle or torus fracture is a type of broken bone. One side of the bone bends, raising a little buckle, without breaking the other side of the bone. Teens don't usually get this type of fracture. Read More Comminuted Fractures A comminuted fracture is a type of broken bone. The bone is broken into more than two pieces. Read More Greenstick Fractures A greenstick fracture is a type of broken bone. The bone cracks on one side only, not all the way through the bone. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.