Stress Fractures: Causes, Symptoms, Daignosis, Prevention and Treatment

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Stress Fractures
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Stress Fractures

• Stress fractures are small cracks which are
  caused in your bones that occur when overly tired
  muscles can no longer absorb the shock of
  repeated impact. When this happens, the forces
  are transferred to your bones further causing
  stress fractures. Stress fractures are most
  commonly found in weight-bearing bones in the
  foot, shin and ankle.

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What causes stress fractures?

• The major cause of stress fractures is overuse.
  They are especially common in athletes who
  participate in high-impact activities, like
  basketball, gymnastics, tennis, and long-distance
  running.They can also occur if you are living a
  relatively sedentary lifestyle and suddenly start
  doing physical activity, for example, suddenly
  spending a lot of time walking around in the city
  when you don't normally or starting to run.This
  happens because your muscles are not yet trained
  to absorb repeated shock. Basically, doing "too
  much too soon" can lead to stress fractures.

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What causes stress fractures?
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• Teenagers who are still growing are at risk
  because their bones may not yet have fully
  hardened. Individuals with weakened bones from
  conditions like osteoporosis are also at
  risk.Outside factors may also contribute to
  stress fractures. This includes poor training or
  technique when performing exercises. Poor
  exercise equipment like footwear can also lead to
  stress fractures, such as shoes that have worn
  cushioning or not enough foot or arch support.

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What are the symptoms of stress fractures?

• Stress fractures are linked with gradual pain
  that increases at the time of weight-bearing
  activity. The pain may decrease with rest or even
  go away entirely when you aren't doing the
  activities that cause pain like running, walking
  or jumping.There may also be swelling on the
  top of the foot, around the ankle or the shin.
  The area of the stress fracture may feel tender
  to touch, and in some cases bruising may be
  present. Usually, you might feel a dull pain with
  sharpness with each step.

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What is the treatment for stress fractures?

• Your doctor will often suggest that you stop the
  activity that is causing you pain, advice you to
  use cold therapy, and wear a walking boot based
  on the severity of stress fracture.
• Rest
• Cold Therapy - Apply ice to the injured area to
  help in reducing pain and swelling.
• Anti-inflammatory with caution -
  Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and
  aspirin can be used to alleviate pain however,
  they can also inhibit bone healing. Consult your
  doctor.
• Recovery Time - Generally stress fractures take
  around 6 to 8 weeks to heal, and it is normally
  suggested to switch to non-weight bearing
  activities like swimming and biking. Make sure
  you consult your doctor for which activities are
  appropriate for your recovery.

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What is the treatment for stress fractures?
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• For more serious stress fractures, surgery may
  be required. A fastener will be kept in the bones
  to hold them together during the healing process.
  However, most fractures will heal on their own
  with rest and time, and surgery is not usually
  required.

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