Studies show that osteocytes are activated by muscle contractions during weight-bearing exercise. This then causes the osteocytes to instruct other bone cells to create new and more muscular bone tissue allowing them to patch the edges of the broken bone. Weight-bearing is especially essential for bone healing in patients with autoimmune disease, fractures, and following orthopedic surgery. Low-intensity weight-bearing exercise has shown to be beneficial in bone healing over non-weight-bearing exercises.