The various tissues in the human body can heal at different rates affecting tissue healing timelines. The results of healing are also varied, depending on the tissue involved and the severity of the injury or wound. For example, most tissues in the body heal largely due to the replacement of damaged tissues with scar tissue. As a result, even though these tissues are ‘healed’, they are not quite the same as they were pre-injury. Bones, however, heal by replacing the damaged tissues with actual new bone. After a bone break heals, the bone may be just as strong as before, or even stronger.
There are many factors that can affect the healing time for a damaged tissue. These factors can include the following, among others:
- extent of damage
- age of the injured the person
- the general health and nutrition of the injured person
- available blood supply to the area
- post-injury care
- medications
![By Mikael Häggström, used with permission. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wound_healing_phases.png){kind=link}
Table of Tissue Healing Timelines
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) / Exercise-Induced Muscle Soreness
- 0-3 days
Muscle Strain
- Grade 1: 1 – 3 weeks
- Grade 2: 1 week – 3 months
- Grade 3: 4 weeks – 6 months
Tendon Injury
- 4 – 6 weeks
Ligament Sprain
- Grade 1: 4 – 10 days
- Grade 2: 3 weeks – 6 months
- Grade 3: 5 weeks – 8 months
Ligament Graft
- 2 months – 2 years
Bone
- 5 weeks – 3 months
Cartilage (articular)
- 2 months – 2 years
Nerve
- 1 – 3 mm/day
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