Orthobiologics: How Do They Help Your Foot Fracture Heal Faster?

After you experience a severe bone fracture in your foot, an orthopedic specialist will try to heal the injury as fast as possible with orthobiologics. Orthobiologics are the treatments used to encourage faster healing in damaged or injured bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. You can also speed up your recovery at home by eating foods that contain similar healing properties. Here are more things to know about orthobiologics and what you can do to assist them in your recovery.

What Are Orthobiologics?

Your body already has protective substances inside it that heal and repair damaged tissues, including stem cells, proteins, and matrices. But when an injury, inflammation, or disease damages a tissue too much, the substances may not work well by themselves and need assistance. This is where orthobiologics come in. 

Orthobiologic treatments work with your body's natural substances to heal severely damaged tissues. The treatments can contain all natural substances, or doctors and laboratories can make them. Some of the most common types of orthobiologics are grafts. Grafts can come from your own body, cadavers, or live donors. It's also possible to manufacture artificial grafts. Orthopedists surgically place grafts on injured tissues to help them heal.

Stem cells and proteins (growth factors) are other types of orthobiologics. Stem cells have the ability to mimic and fabricate other cells, while growth factors provide the foundation for stem cells to grow and thrive. It's important to have both substances in place for your fractured foot to heal well.

After a bone doctor treats your injury, you can take steps to protect it at home.

How Can You Protect Your Injury as It Heals?

It's critical that you maintain a good diet once you arrive home from surgery. Arugula, kale, and spinach provide your bones and body with calcium, zinc, and other bone-building nutrients. Plain yogurt and fat free milk can help your bones absorb the nutrients in the items listed above. If you have concerns or questions about your diet, consult with an orthopedist right away.

Also, drink as much water as you can during your recovery. Water hydrates cells and keeps them active in the body. Adults can strive to drink 9 to 13 cups a day, depending on your sex. If plain water isn't palatable for you, add slices of fresh lemon, strawberry, or kiwi for flavor. However, be sure to ask a bone doctor if it's okay to add the items to your water before you do so.

To learn more about orthobiologics, consult with an orthopedic specialist, such as those at Ultimate Sports, today.