It's important to give the bone time to heal. Surgery also might be an option to help healing in elite athletes who want to return to their sport more quickly or laborers whose work involves the stress fracture site. To reduce the bone's weight-bearing load until healing occurs, you might need to wear a walking boot or brace or use crutches.Īlthough unusual, surgery is sometimes necessary to ensure complete healing of some types of stress fractures, especially those that occur in areas with a poor blood supply. This type of test is also better able to distinguish between stress fractures and soft tissue injuries. It can visualize lower grade stress injuries (stress reactions) before an X-ray shows changes. An MRI is considered the best way to diagnose stress fractures. An MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create detailed images of your bones and soft tissues. However, many types of bone problems look alike on bone scans, so the test isn't specific for stress fractures. The radioactive substance is heavily absorbed by areas where bones are being repaired - showing up on the scan image as a bright white spot. A few hours before a bone scan, you'll receive a small dose of radioactive material through an intravenous line. It can take several weeks - and sometimes longer than a month - for evidence of stress fractures to show on X-rays. Stress fractures often can't be seen on regular X-rays taken shortly after your pain begins. To keep your bones strong, make sure your diet includes enough calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients.ĭoctors can sometimes diagnose a stress fracture from a medical history and a physical exam, but imaging tests are often needed. Add low-impact activities to your exercise regimen to avoid repetitively stressing a particular part of your body. If you have flat feet, ask your doctor about arch supports for your shoes. Make sure your shoes fit well and are appropriate for your activity. Avoid increasing the amount you exercise by more than 10% a week. Start any new exercise program slowly and progress gradually. Simple steps can help you prevent stress fractures. If underlying causes are not taken care of, you may be at higher risk of additional stress fractures. Some stress fractures don't heal properly, which can cause chronic problems. Eating disorders and lack of vitamin D and calcium can make bones more likely to develop stress fractures. Having had one or more stress fractures puts you at higher risk of having more. Conditions such as osteoporosis can weaken your bones and make it easier for stress fractures to occur. Worn footwear contributes to the problem. People who have flat feet or high, rigid arches are more likely to develop stress fractures. Women, especially those who have abnormal or absent menstrual periods, are at higher risk of developing stress fractures. Stress fractures often occur in people who suddenly shift from a sedentary lifestyle to an active training regimen or who rapidly increase the intensity, duration or frequency of training sessions. Stress fractures are more common in people who engage in high-impact sports, such as track and field, basketball, tennis, dance or gymnastics. Risk factorsįactors that can increase your risk of stress fractures include: During remodeling, bone tissue is destroyed (resorption), then rebuilt.īones subjected to unaccustomed force without enough time for recovery resorb cells faster than your body can replace them, which makes you more susceptible to stress fractures. Stress fractures often result from increasing the amount or intensity of an activity too quickly.īone adapts gradually to increased loads through remodeling, a normal process that speeds up when the load on the bone increases.
When to see a doctorĬontact your doctor if your pain becomes severe or if you feel pain even when resting or at night. You might have swelling around the painful area. The tenderness usually starts at a specific spot and decreases during rest. SymptomsĪt first, you might barely notice the pain associated with a stress fracture, but it tends to worsen with time. If you start a new exercise program, for example, you might develop stress fractures if you do too much too soon. Track and field athletes and military recruits who carry heavy packs over long distances are at highest risk, but anyone can sustain a stress fracture. Stress fractures are most common in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot. Stress fractures can also develop from normal use of a bone that's weakened by a condition such as osteoporosis. They're caused by repetitive force, often from overuse - such as repeatedly jumping up and down or running long distances. Stress fractures are tiny cracks in a bone. Stress fractures are tiny cracks in a bone - most commonly, in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot.
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