Stress Fractures

are tiny cracks in a bone. They're caused by repetitive force, often

from overuse — such as repeatedly jumping up and down or
running long distances. Stress fractures can also develop from
normal use of a bone that's weakened by a condition such as
osteoporosis.

Stress fractures most frequently occur in the feet, ankles, and lower legs,
though they can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the pelvis,
hip, ribs, sacrum, clavicle, and upper extremities (arms).
Normal body movements like walking or running can also develop a
stress fracture. This is true for people who are suffering from
conditions like osteoporosis.

Bones in the lower leg and foot are more prone to fractures
that occur because of stress. Athletes, sports people, and
military recruits are at high risk of developing stress fractures.
This is because of the nature of their jobs.

What Are the Causes of Stress Fractures?

Extrinsic Factors (factors are those that occur outside the body. This is
when injuries or other conditions that affect from outside the body
result in a stress fracture) Extrinsic factors include:

 Doing exercise or training with an incorrect technique

 Trying to do too much in too less time
 Using a different surface to exercise than you normally use like concrete, gravel,
or a soft surface
 Running on a sloped surface
 Use of poor-quality shoes or training equipment
 Repetitive activities and high-impact sports like long-distance running, basketball,
tennis, gymnastics, or dancing
 Having a poor diet with a low nutritional profile
 Low vitamin D levels in the body
 Playing sports continuously round the year without any breaks
Intrinsic Factors (are the ones that are not affected by extrinsic factors)
Here are some of the common internal factors:

 Age
 Weight
 Foot Problems
 Gender
 Medical Problems

What Are the Symptoms of Stress Fractures?

PAIN accompanied by itching, and swelling at the fracture site,In
most cases, the person feels pinpoint pain when someone
touches the site of injury.
What is the Diagnosis of a Stress Fracture?
Diagnosing a stress fracture is not easy as symptoms develop late, and people
often ignore such symptoms. However, the orthopedic specialist will order
several tests to identify or confirm a stress fracture along with its severity.

 X-rays
 Bone Scans
 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
 What is the Treatment for Stress Fractures?

 Ice massage on the injury for 10 minutes at once multiple times a day
 Rest
 Non-impact exercises under the guidance of the specialist (only if suggested)
 Physical therapy
 OTC or prescription drugs to relieve pain & inflammation
 Using protective footwear to reduce stress on the foot/leg
 Using assistive devices to prevent any further stress on the injured area until it
heals
 In some cases, the orthopedic specialist will apply a cast to keep the fracture
aligned well and weight off it
 Sometimes, stress fracture develops big, and, in such cases, internal fixation is
required. This involves the use of trauma implants like orthopedic plates, bone
screws, pins, or wires.
 How to Prevent a Stress Fracture?
 Use the right equipment and training techniques
 Wear high-quality footwear and change timely
 Do not overdo exercises and stop when you feel pain
 Slowly change your exercise regime and smoothly increase the
intensity of your exercise
 Always warm up before playing sports
 Maintain healthy weight
 Take a healthy and complete diet
 Maintain calcium and vitamin D levels
 Take timely breaks and give your body much-needed time to relax
 Stay in touch with the sports specialist/doctor for regular health
monitoring