What is a Stress Fracture?
A stress fracture is a microscopic fracture of the bone that is so small it often cannot be picked up on an X-ray. If left untreated, a stress fracture can cause significant disability and may develop into a full fracture, possibly even requiring surgery.
The majority of stress fractures occur in the lower limb, being particularly common in the hip, shins, and foot at points where the most force passes through when weight-bearing. Most stress fractures are overuse injuries and are common in long-distance runners.
What are the Symptoms?
As with many overuse injuries, the pain of a stress fracture starts gradually, beginning with pain during or after activity, or sometimes the morning after. If activity continues without modification, the pain will gradually increase. Eventually, most people are unable to maintain their usual activity level. Stress fractures are common in runners and military personnel who are required to march for long periods.
A stress fracture is more likely to occur in someone with weaker bone strength, such as a person with osteoporosis, which is itself affected by many factors such as inadequate calcium intake, vitamin D deficiency, and a history of inactivity.
How are Stress Fractures Treated and How Long Will It Take to Get Better at Cumberland Physio Parramatta?
Stress fractures can easily be mistaken for other conditions such as shin splints. As the fracture is often too small to show up on an X-ray, a definitive diagnosis can be made using an MRI or bone scan.
After diagnosis, the most important part of treatment is resting the affected area to allow the bone to heal before resuming activity. Stress fractures usually need at least six weeks to recover fully. Some areas of the body have a poor blood supply, which makes healing more complicated. For example, stress fractures of the navicular bone in the foot may need to be immobilised in a boot or cast for a period of time to heal properly.
Other aspects of treatment involve correcting any factors that contributed to the original injury. There is some evidence that unsupportive footwear is a risk factor, along with poor biomechanics and weak muscles that provide inadequate support to the skeletal system during activity. Come and speak to our physiotherapist Matthew West at Cumberland Physio Parramatta if you suspect you may have a stress fracture or simply want to know more.
None of the information in this article is a replacement for proper medical advice. Always see a medical professional for advice on your injury.