Chapter 7, Problem 2CSL

A fireman fell from a ladder while fighting a fire and severely fractured the thigh and leg bones in his right leg. He was hospitalized for several weeks, then he was wheelchair-bound for several months while his leg bones healed. Upon removal of the cast, it was apparent that his right thigh and leg bones were thin and weak. What factors contributed to this thinning and weakening of the bones, and what should the fireman do to improve the strength of these bones?