1) When do broken bones become useful? Click here for the answer.

 

If you don't wear a helmet when riding a bike, you could be in the hospital, or be dead if a car just happens to hit you.

 

2) Why are astronauts always examined after they land? Click here for the answer.

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that deals with disabilities of the bones and muscles and their connected tissues.  The word orthopedics is spelled orthopaedics too.  Doctors who perform orthopedics are called orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons.  They treat a large range of medical troubles such as; breaks, injuries to tendons and ligaments (parts of a joint that hold it together), and misshapenness of the limbs and spine.

Orthopedists offer care for patients who vary from infants to seniors.  A few orthopedic disabilities occur when people are born, others happen during childhood because of problems with growth or in later life as a result of getting older.  Yet, others are caused by injury or illness.  Citizens who are injured in car crashes and physical or recreational activities make up a large number of the patients taken care of by the orthopedists.

While treating orthopedic problems, orthopedists give the patient medicines, surgery, or physical therapy.  For example, an orthopedist might give the patient surgery to fix a fracture or abnormality.  Afterwards, the orthopedist might put on a cast or brace and prescribe physical therapy (exercise) to help it heal faster.  Another type of therapy could be heat, or ice, or a device that applies electric current to help the bone heal.  An orthopedist also may perform surgery to take out an injured joint, and replace it with a fake one made of plastic, metal, or different material.  Joints that are usually replaced are the hip joint, the knee, the shoulder, and the joints in the hands and feet.

If you want to prevent having things like these happen to you, then be sure to;

1.  Wear a helmet when riding your bike, roller blades, etc.

2.  Wear pads and/or a mouth guard when playing sports that are like football or soccer (hard ball, pushing and shoving, etc.)

3.  Exercise a lot so that your bones stay strong

4.  Wear your seat belt in the car.

Credits

Online Media

Images

Image of nurse wrapping bandage from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?cag=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (October-February, 2003-2004). 

Book

Bernstein, Joanne E. and Paul Cohen.  Dizzy Doctor Riddles. Niles, Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company. 1989.

Joke Answers

1) When they start to knit.  Return.

2) In case they come down with something.  Return.