What are the causes and symptoms of stress fractures?

When repetitive stress is applied to a bone and the bone is unable to adapt to the changes, cracks may form in the bone.  These cracks are known as stress fractures.  The risk of stress fractures occurs when there is a sudden change in activity whether it is due to someone beginning a new strenuous, repetitive activity such as running or increasing the activity suddenly.  Some of the sports that commonly cause stress fractures are running, basketball, gymnastics, tennis.   Women are 10x more likely to develop stress fractures as compared to men.  Common stress fractures from sports are found in the hip, tibia or shin bone, navicular bone in the foot, and the metatarsals in the forefoot.   Symptoms of stress fractures in the hip are pain in the front of the hip and deep groin pain with standing and moving, walking with a limp, increased pain with activity and decreased pain at rest, and pain with single leg hop.  Symptoms of stress fracture in the tibia include localized tenderness to the shin bone, focal swelling and pain with single leg hop.  Symptoms of stress fracture in the navicular bone include vague, aching pain in the foot that may radiate to the arch, and pain worse with running and jumping.  Symptoms of stress fracture in the metatarsal bone include sharp pain in the forefoot worse with running or jumping, tenderness to pressure on the top of the foot, swelling, and pain with pushing off or landing during jumping.  Because symptoms of stress fractures often imitate other injuries such as tendonitis or strains, it is important to contact your physician if a stress fracture is suspected or if pain does not subside after several days.

Cindy Shimamoto, PT, OCS, COMT

Center Manager – Creve Coeur

SSM Physical Therapy

12382 Olive Blvd.

Creve Coeur, MO  63141

314-453-9675 (phone)

314-469-1294 (fax)