The healing femur

Margaret Mead, a famous American anthropologist, was once asked what is the earliest sign of civilization.  Her answer was a healed fracture humerus found in an archaeological site dated 15,000 years old.

One was expected Mead to say pottery, or iron, or farming told, but Mead explained that a healed femur was never found in other living beings. The healed femur of the ancient person proved that the person had been cared for long enough time for that bone to heal.  Femur is the longest bone in the body, and currently, it takes up to six weeks of rest for a fractured femur to heal.  The ancient person would need to be cared for by others with food and drink and protection from other beasts.  And only humans can provide such a long period of care. If one breaks its leg in the animal kingdom, it will die as it cannot find food and water and cannot escape from the predator.

Such is the uniqueness of the healing and care that manual therapy can give to another person. The importance of touch and care defines the quality of our work.