What Is Stress Fracture?
Stress fracture (small cracks in bones) results from excessive repetitive load or impact. Often seen in the lower extremities, this type of fracture can also affect the upper extremities or any bone in the body.
Repetitive activities put stress on bones (mostly the weight-bearing ones in your foot and lower leg). It can cause them to break down over time. People participating in high-level sports (running, dancing, playing football, etc.) may be more prone to developing stress fractures than others. Not only sportspeople are at risk of the condition in the consideration. If your work involves a lot of walking or repetitive load, you might have it too.
On average, the inactivity period after the stress fracture is one to two months. After such a long healing period, the injured extremity will be weak. That is where physiotherapy kicks in: we will load the injured area step-by-step, controlling how it reacts. In such a way, you will get back to activities faster.
How Do We Treat Stress Fracture?
Physical therapy may be beneficial to recognize the issue and find relief from such fractures. In some cases, icing the injured area may be enough, while the more severe case might require more substantial treatment methods like exercises.
At South Barrie Health Group, we understand the discomforting pain that stress fractures cause. Our physical therapists assess the patient’s physical state, symptoms, medical history, and talk to him/her to obtain information concerning the symptoms and when (how) they started manifesting themselves. Additional tests, such as an MRI scan or X-ray, may be conducted if needed. After that, our physiotherapists create a tailored treatment plan.
The recovery plan consists of passive therapies to reduce pain and active exercises and stretches to restore strength and increase range of motion. If you are an athlete, our expert physical therapists also provide activity-specific training to ensure you can continue performing at optimum levels. We regularly reassess your state during treatment to make corrections to the plan.
We will also ensure you receive the information to prevent further injury.
Why Do You Have Stress Fractures
- bone diseases,
- muscle weakness,
- poor diet,
- footwear that does not fit you,
- rapid increase in activity level
are some of the risk factors.
The most common symptoms can include
- soreness or tenderness to the touch,
- swelling,
- and pain that occurs from activity and is relieved by rest.
How to Prevent Stress Fractures
To prevent stress fractures, first of all, have rest. Your bones need time to adjust to the stresses, and after that, the risk of stress fractures decreases. You can also wear the proper footwear, stay hydrated, maintain a balanced diet, and exercise safely and sensibly to maximize the possibility of avoiding this condition.
South Barrie Health Group (Ontario) can help individuals experiencing pain get back to their lifestyle, whether they are athletes or not. Our job is to detect any factors contributing to persistent pain and to provide an individualized treatment program to return to a less painful and higher quality of life.
