What does a Stress Fracture Treatment Plan include?

Let’s start by explaining what a stress fracture is. A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone that usually happens from overuse. Stress fractures are one of the most common injuries in sports but a stress fracture can affect anyone with weak bones or nutritional deficiencies.

The symptoms for a stress fracture are not always easy to diagnosis, and stress fractures can get worse quickly and so please contact your healthcare practitioner if you notice the following symptoms:

• pain in the foot or leg, spine, and other locations when exercising that goes away when resting
• pain that starts happening earlier in the activity each time it’s done
• pain that gets worse with time and can be felt even after rest
• an area of the affected bone that is painful to touch

At Diversified Health Clinic  you will be asked questions about your medical history, your activity level and other things that might put you at risk for a stress fracture. A physical examine of the affected area, to check for tenderness and looking to see if there’s any redness or swelling.

Stress fractures happen mostly in the lower limbs, like the foot or lower leg, where bones get more pressure from bearing weight. But people also get stress fractures in the upper limbs if they put repetitive strain on the bones such as when playing tennis or golf, or during work such as a carpenter or brick layer.

You are more likely to develop a stress fracture, if you have a a low level of physical fitness, which causes problems with muscle strength. Weak muscles put the bones at greater risk of fractures.  A low intake of calcium and Vitamin D, or flat feet, which may increase the risk of stress fractures of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower part of the leg)

Treatment for a stress fracture can include:

• Cold Laser
• Ice/Heat
• Physiotherapy
• Acupuncture
• Rehab exercises
• Calcium supplements
• Anti inflammatory medication

If noticed early and treated correctly, most stress fractures will heal by themselves in a matter of weeks, so a stress fracture treatment plan includes various options and modalities specifically for your injury.