Social Media Recovery Videos May Harm More Than Heal

When Kim Kardashian glided into the launch party of her NYC SKIMS boutique on a knee scooter , a mobility aid for people with lower leg injuries - stiletto on one foot, designer cast on the other - she wasn't just managing an injury. She was creating content.

And she's far from alone.

In 2024, rapper Kid Cudi turned his own broken foot into a viral storyline, posting updates of himself on crutches and in a surgical boot after a mishap at the Coachella festival in California. These high profile injuries don't just invite sympathy; they generate style points, followers and millions of views.

But as injury recovery morphs into online entertainment, it raises an important question: is this trend helping people heal or encouraging risky behaviour that can delay recovery?

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Open any social media feed and you'll likely stumble across videos of people hobbling through supermarkets, dancing on crutches, or sweating through workouts in a medical boot. Hashtags like #BrokenFootClub and #InjuryRecovery have spawned thriving online communities where users share advice, frustrations and recovery milestones. For many, rehab has become a public performance, complete with triumphant comeback narratives.

And it's not just celebrities. All sorts of people are turning their injuries, from hiking sprains to post-surgery recoveries, into digital diaries. Some offer helpful tips or emotional support, while others focus on fast-tracked progress, sometimes glossing over the slower, necessary steps that true healing demands.

Watching others navigate recovery can be deeply reassuring. Seeing someone joke about wobbling to the bathroom or demonstrate how to climb stairs with crutches can ease the loneliness that often comes with injury.

And some creators are genuinely getting it right. Increasing numbers of healthcare professionals , from orthopaedic surgeons to physiotherapists and podiatrists, now use social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to share safe exercises, realistic timelines and expert tips on navigating recovery. For people who struggle to access in-person care, this clinically sound content can be a lifeline.

But not all content is created equal - and some can do more harm than good .

When rest gets rebranded

But on social media, rest isn't always part of the narrative. The most viewed recovery videos often aren't posted by healthcare professionals but by influencers eager to showcase rapid progress. Some discard crutches too soon, hop unaided, or attempt high-impact exercises while their bodies are still vulnerable - all for the sake of engagement.

What's often missing is the unglamorous reality: swelling, setbacks, rest and the slow, sometimes frustrating, pace of real healing. Bones, tendons and ligaments aren't impressed by likes or follower counts. Healing requires time and carefully structured loading : a gradual, deliberate increase in weight bearing and movement to rebuild strength without risking re-injury.

Ignoring this process can lead to delayed healing, chronic pain, re-injury, or even long term joint and muscle complications that can affect the knees, hips, or back.

And this isn't just speculation. A 2025 study examining TikTok content on acute knee injuries found that most videos were produced by non-experts and often contained incomplete or inaccurate information. Researchers warned that this misinformation may not only distort patient expectations but also lead to decisions that hinder proper recovery. Similar trends were found in anterior cruciate ligament knee injury videos, where dangerous, non-evidence based practices were widely promoted to millions of viewers.

Healthcare professionals are now seeing the ripple effects firsthand. Many physiotherapists and podiatrists report a growing number of patients arriving with unrealistic expectations shaped by social media , rather than medical advice. Some patients feel frustrated when their recovery doesn't match the rapid progress they see online. Others attempt risky exercises before their bodies are ready, setting themselves back.

A 2025 study examining TikTok content on acute knee injuries found that most videos were produced by non-experts and often contained incomplete or inaccurate information. Researchers warned that this misinformation may not only distort patient expectations but also lead to decisions that hinder proper recovery.

The World Health Organization has also flagged the dangers of online health misinformation. When social media shortcuts replace professional care, patients risk not only slower recovery but potentially more complex medical problems, while clinicians are left managing the aftermath.

Recovery isn't a race

While supportive online communities can be a valuable source of comfort, the pressure to "bounce back" quickly can be dangerous. Viral videos and celebrity recoveries can create a toxic sense of comparison, tempting people to rush their own healing process.

Research shows that the psychological drive to return to activity, particularly among younger adults, can reduce rehab compliance and sharply increase the risk of re-injury. True recovery isn't governed by trending hashtags; it follows a personal, biologically determined timeline that requires patience, rest, and carefully structured rehabilitation.

Seeing stars like Kim Kardashian with a designer cast might make injury look fashionable . But for most people, a broken foot is not glamorous; it's weeks of awkward movement, discomfort, adaptation and quiet, steady healing.

Mobility content can inspire, motivate, and connect - but it's not a road map for your own recovery. If you're injured, approach online content with curiosity, not comparison. Learn from others, but listen to your body. Healing is personal. Your recovery won't be dictated by views, likes, or viral trends - it will unfold on your body's own timetable.

Craig Gwynne does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.