Jan-Otto / Getty Images
Women seem to be at greater risk of foot stress fractures than men. This may be related to a condition called “the female athlete triad,” which is a combination of poor nutrition, eating disorders, and amenorrhea (infrequent menstrual cycle), that predispose women to early osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). The result of this type of decreased bone density is an increase in the risk of stress fractures.
High-impact sports such as running, gymnastics, and volleyball can increase the risk of stress fractures. In all of these sports, the repetitive stress of the foot strike on a hard surface causes trauma and muscle fatigue. Without the right shoes, good muscle strength or adequate rest between workouts, an athlete can develop a stress fracture.
Risk Factors
Researchers have identified several factors that may predispose athletes to multiple stress fractures of the lower extremities. These factors include the following:
Diagnosis
Stress fractures may be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often vague and slow to appear. A generalized ache or tenderness over the bone in the area of the stress fracture may initially be diagnosed as muscle injury or muscle strain. Stress fractures of the tibia lower leg) are often misdiagnosed as shin splints in the early stages.
In order to diagnose a stress fracture, a physician will perform a complete history and physical examination. It’s important for athletes to explain their training history, including the type of exercise, as well as how much and how often they train.
X-rays may not reveal a stress fracture but are helpful in showing signs of bone remodeling near the stress fracture. An MRI or bone scan is better able to show a stress fracture but is usually only ordered if treatment fails to reduce symptoms of a stress fracture.
Stress Fracture Treatment
The best treatment for a stress fracture is rest. Taking a break from a high-impact exercise routine, such as running, and doing some low impact exercise, such as cycling or swimming, for several weeks can help the fractured bone heal. If an athlete pushes through pain and trains with a stress fracture, the fracture can enlarge or become a chronic injury that may never heal properly.
After rest, the typical stress fracture treatment recommendations include:
Preventing Stress Fractures
The following advice may protect you from developing stress fractures in the first place:
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stress Fracture - Patient Information. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Raija Korpelainen, MSc, et al. Risk Factors for Recurrent Stress Fractures in Athletes. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. May 2001 29:304-310.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stress Fracture - Patient Information. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Raija Korpelainen, MSc, et al. Risk Factors for Recurrent Stress Fractures in Athletes. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. May 2001 29:304-310.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stress Fracture - Patient Information. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Raija Korpelainen, MSc, et al. Risk Factors for Recurrent Stress Fractures in Athletes. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. May 2001 29:304-310.
Stress Fracture - Patient Information. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
