A patient recovering from femur fracture has limited weight-bearing capacity. Which biomechanical change explains why early ambulation with crutches aids bone healing despite limited mechanical loading?

💡 Explanation

Fluid shear stress generated by intermittent loading during ambulation stimulates osteocytes to initiate bone remodeling, promoting healing, because this process enhances nutrient transport and bone matrix deposition. Therefore, controlled loading aids recovery, rather than causing detrimental hydrostatic pressure or bypassing normal ossification pathways.

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