What is a Stress fracture? Symptoms and Causes of a Stress fracture

What is Stress Fracture?

Stress fractures can take place anywhere when there is excessive use, but generally, they are seen in the lower extremity owing to being affected and weight-bearing tasks. The generally affected bone due to stress fracture is the shin bone.

Symptoms of Stress Fracture: 

• Pain is the generally found symptom of a stress fracture. Initially, you may oversee the pain related with a stress fracture. However, the pain can aggravate over time. There are chances of having swelling around the pain area. 

• There will be some tenderness when you touch the bone affected by the fracture. 

• There will be pain that starts after beginning an activity, and it gradually subsides when resting. There are also instances when there is pain during the complete activity, and it does not fade once the activity has stopped.

Causes of Stress Fracture:

Stress fractures generally happen while raising an activity’s intensity, that too quickly. This mostly happens in the case of sports activities, where unusual stress is placed on the bone.

Bones always involve in remodeling. Over time, when sufficient stress is applied on the bone, it has an impact on the bone’s ability to remodel. This leads to an exhausted site namely the stress fracture. 

• Stress fractures are generally seen in people who are inactive for some time but suddenly take up loads of exercise. This is because their bones are not accustomed to the task. 

• Stress fractures may also take place in athletes who involve in running in jumping sports. When there is excessive training, the sportsperson may encounter stress fractures. 

• When you return to any sports competition too early after an injury, it may result in a stress fracture.

Also Read: How to Recover from a Sports Injury?

How to Handle Stress Fracture? 

Suppose you have a stress fracture, you should have sufficient rest. Don’t involve in any activity that will aggravate the injury.

The pain can become worse if the stress fracture is not given treatment early itself. The fracture may even get displaced. Your doctor will diagnose the stress fracture through physical examination, X-Rays, and bone scan.

Not treating a stress fracture may lead to the fracture’s aggravation. It may not heal appropriately. Therefore don’t consider the pain trivial. Please consult your ortho doctor when you feel the pain, and let him/her know about your activities. There are different ways to treat stress fracture; the doctor will ask you not to involve in the activity that is causing pain. It is good to ask your doctor before you totally return to activities including exercise, ensuring that the affected area is healed.