Stress fracture

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone, or severe bruising within a bone. Most stress fractures are caused by overuse and repetitive activity, and are common in runners and athletes who participate in running sports, such as soccer and basketball and army recruits during their training period. Stress fractures occur most often in the second and third metatarsals in the foot. Other bones of the foot that can have stress fracture are calcaneus, cuboid, 5th MT just distal to tuberosity. Stress fractures are overuse injuries, they occur over time when repetitive forces result in microscopic damage to the bone.

Why stress fracture happens

• Abrupt increase in daily activity
• Deficiency in bone
• Improper equipment
• Lack of warmup
• Any change in surface of contact

Symptom of Stress fracture

• Pain that diminishes during rest
• Pain that occurs and intensifies during normal, daily activities
• Swelling on the top of the foot or on the outside of the ankle
• Tenderness to touch at the site of the fracture
• Possible bruising