A doctor has responded to three strange theories about why some people have never broken a bone, and the medical answer is a lot less mystical than the internet version.
Most people are not exactly trying to end up in a cast, at least you would hope not. Still, broken bones are common enough that many people can point to at least one childhood fall, sports injury, or awkward accident that left them with a fracture.
Roughly half of people will break at least one bone during their life, according to the Royal Osteoporosis Society. Even so, there are always people who reach adulthood without ever snapping one, which has led to all kinds of theories about why.
One reason the topic gets people talking is that not all bones have the same risk. According to Enable Law, the clavicle, better known as the collarbone, is the bone people break most often.
That makes sense when you think about where it sits. The collarbone is thin, easy to hit during a fall, and placed high across the chest, which leaves it exposed during sports impacts, trips, and other accidents.
But TikTok creator Sara’s Weird World suggested there could be a very different explanation for people who have never broken a bone, saying there may be a ‘spiritual’ reason behind it.
“It’s because they are protected by spiritual protection. Almost untouchable in a weird sense. Protected by the higher powers,” she said while sharing the first of the more unusual theories.
The idea is that some people are guarded in a way that keeps serious physical harm away from them. It is the sort of claim that can quickly spread online because it gives an ordinary detail, like never having worn a cast, a much bigger meaning.
Of course, that does not make it medically proven. It does show why these theories get attention, though, especially on TikTok, where spiritual explanations and body-related claims often mix with personal stories.
The TikTok creator has proposed three alternative theories.Getty Stock Images
Another theory claims that good karma may protect certain people from harm, almost as if their actions have helped shield them from the kind of accident that would cause a fracture.
The third theory goes even further and suggests that past lives could affect what happens to a person’s body now. In that version, someone who has avoided broken bones in this life may have already gone through pain or trauma before.
Sara explained it this way: “It is said that those people in this life who have never broken a bone may have experienced significant trauma in a past life. So, the theory suggests that they are being spared from having similar experiences in this life.”
Why people may buy into theories like this
It is easy to see why the idea catches people’s attention. If someone has never broken a bone, especially when their friends or family have, it can feel like more than luck.
Some people may also look for deeper meaning in small details about their bodies. The internet has made that even easier, because a simple question about health can quickly turn into a mix of myths, personal beliefs, and half-serious jokes.
Still, when it comes to bone strength and fracture risk, doctors tend to look at much more practical factors. Those include genetics, diet, exercise, age, falls, and the kind of activities a person does day to day.
Medical professional Dr Suhail Hussain and the Royal Osteoporosis Society have since offered a more grounded view of these unusual claims.
Dr Hussain said the chances of breaking a bone are not simply random, but they are also not down to divine protection.
“[It’s] a mix of your genes, lifestyle, and even what you eat could be making your bones weaker or stronger,” he explained.
One major part of the answer is genetics. Some people may naturally have stronger bones because of what they inherited from their family.
Dr Hussain said: “Bone strength is largely inherited. That includes how dense your bones are, how well your body processes calcium, and even how your skeleton is built.”
“Some of us are naturally more prone to thinner bones – and those can snap more easily under pressure.”
The doctor has debunked the claims.Getty Stock Images
