We’ve all had situations where we’ve slightly turned our ankle, or stubbed our toe, and while we’re cursing and saying “Ow” a lot, we walk it off. When the injury isn’t too severe, this seems to work.
Why?
I would assume it has to do with getting more blood flowing to the particular area of injury. But why does that help make it better?
Does it really have to do not with our hobbling around, but simply with a little time elapsing?
I think there’s a bit more to it than that. Interesting question though.
When subjected to pain of any sort beyond a certain degree, we have a built in fight or flight reaction. Nature says that when pain goes beyond the mildly irritating to a real annoyance, to move the body away from the source of the injury. The often seen wild hopping around of small children or monkeys who obtain a painful injury could be part of this.
The body reacts, but the brain realizes that there is no real danger, but one is conditioned to move around until the pain ebbs. Plus, sudden pain triggers a whole bunch of adrenaline to be released into the system to assist in fight or flight. The walking around helps burn off the ‘supercharged’ state and the agitation which accompanies it. By then, endorphins have begun to flood the body in reaction to the initial injury and start damping down the pain level.
Walking it off gives one a chance to dispose of the agitation reaction to the pain and calm down and to keep the mind occupied on something else besides the pain.
Doctors used to have an old trick for people, especially kids, when giving a painful shot in the ass. They’d wipe down the injection site, which would draw the ‘victims’ attention there, then sharply smack the other cheek. The sudden sting would shift the attention focus and the shot could be administered because it’s pain would be minimized by the reaction to the smack.
Thanks for answering, JustMe.
I have another question: Is there any heavier object on the planet earth than any question I post in GQ? I’m not sure anything could possibly sink faster. 
Just a nitpick, but the speed (and acceleration) with which a body falls is independent of weight 
This reminded me of the time a friend of mine was chopping habaneros to make salsa. A piece fell on the floor, and the dog licked it. The dog spent the next few minutes trying to back away from his own mouth.