Stress Fractures

Are you a runner concerned about stress fractures? Are you concerned a stress fracture may prevent you from progressing in your workouts or athletic ambitions? Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), the all-natural alternative, may be the answer for you.

Studies have shown:

• Significant decrease in the incidence of stress fractures is observed in athletes after receiving OMT.

A stress fracture is described as a small crack in the bone that occurs from overuse. It commonly develops in weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot. When the muscles of the foot are overworked or stressed, they are unable to absorb the stress. The muscles then transfer the stress to the bone, which results in a stress fracture.

Causes
Stress fractures are caused by a rapid increase in the intensity of exercise. Other causes include impact on a hard surface, improper footwear, and increased physical activity. Athletes participating in certain sports such as long distance running, basketball, tennis, or gymnastics are at a greater risk of developing stress fractures. An athlete with inadequate rest between workouts may also develop stress fractures.

Symptoms
The most common symptom is pain in the extremity, which usually gets worse during exercises and decreases upon resting. Swelling, bruising and tenderness may also occur at a specific point.

Diagnosis
Stress fractures can be diagnosed by reviewing symptoms, risk factors, and performing a thorough physical examination. Some diagnostic tests, such as X-ray’s, may be required to confirm the fracture.

Treatment
Stress fractures are usually treated by a non-surgical approach, which includes:

• Rest: Decreasing or avoiding the activities that worsen the pain.
• Limiting physical activities that involve the foot and ankle.
• Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) may be included into the treatment plan for managing and preventing stress fractures.
• Protective footwear: Your doctor may recommend protective footwear to reduce stress on the foot. A cast and crutches may be used for immobilization during the healing process..
• Surgery is very rare but may be required if the fracture does not heal completely by conservative treatment.

For a list of articles supporting OMT, please click here.

Sports & Joint Mobility

• Ankle Pain
• Knee Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Stress Fractures
• Achilles Tendinitis
• Neck Pain
• Post-Operative Recovery
• Concussions