Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are tiny cracks in a bone and are most common in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot - such as tibial stress fractures and foot stress fractures. Track and field athletes are especially vulnerable to stress fractures, but they can happen to anyone. If you're starting a new exercise program be careful not to do too much too soon.
What are the causes of stress fractures?
Stress fractures are caused by repetitive force and overuse - such as repeatedly jumping up and down or running long distances. Stress fractures also can result from normal use of a bone that's been weakened by disease.
There are two types of stress fractures:
- Fatigue fractures: If a bone is subjected to overuse or repetitive stress beyond its ability to repair itself, it may crack. These fractures occur during high-impact activities and after prolonged low-impact activities.
- Insufficiency fractures: When a bone cracks during routine activity, it's often because the bone was in a weakened state to begin with. For example, insufficiency fractures can happen to people with osteoporosis.
Initially, stress fractures may be barely noticeable. But any pain is a red flag. With proper self-care, professional care, and treatment you can keep the stress fracture from worsening.
If you have a stress fracture, you may experience:
- Pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest
- Pain that occurs earlier in each successive workout
- Pain that increases over time
- Eventually, pain that persists even at rest
- Swelling
- An area that is tender or painful to touch
Diagnosing Stress Fractures
If you experience pain during physical activity or other signs or symptoms of a stress fracture, call Midwest Sports Medicine. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent further injury.
A thorough diagnosis involves obtaining a detailed history of your condition and performing an examination of the injury and surrounding area.
Your doctor will ask about your signs, symptoms and recent physical activity, and check for swelling or tenderness. Stress fractures may not be apparent on X-rays until about three to four weeks after signs and symptoms begin. If your X-rays appear normal but your doctor suspects a stress fracture, the diagnosis may be confirmed with various imaging techniques, including MRIs, bone scans, or CT scans.
Treating Stress Fractures
Treatment for stress fractures often focuses on simple self-care measures such as:
- Ice: To reduce swelling and relieve pain, your doctor may recommend applying ice packs to the injured area.
- Rest: Give the bone time to heal. This may take four to 12 weeks or even longer. You may need to modify activities, wear a brace, or use crutches.
- Pain relievers: If needed, take acetaminophen to relieve pain. Though research suggests that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers can actually interfere with bone healing.
In more severe cases, the doctor may immobilize the affected bone with a splint or cast. When more conservative measures are ineffective, we will discuss surgery. Sometimes a pin is surgically inserted into the bone to hold it together and promote proper healing. In most cases, surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive procedures, which reduces pain, risk, recovery time, and expense.
When your doctor gives the OK, slowly progress from non-weight-bearing to usual activities. As you become more mobile, your doctor may recommend working with a physical therapist. The therapist can help you reintroduce activities and practice strength and stability exercises.