A stress fracture is a tiny fracture or crack in the bone often caused by repeated stress. Runners put quite a lot of pressure on the bones in their feet, legs and shins because of the repetitive nature of the sport.

Risk Factors

Anyone at any level of training has the potential to develop a stress factors, but some people are more likely to develop one than others. In general, women are up to ten times more likely to develop a stress fracture than men. This is largely due to men generally having more muscle mass that serves as a shock absorber to the stress of physical activity. Anything that reduces the strength of the bone can make one more likely to develop a stress fracture. Because of this, diseases such as anorexia and bulimia can lead to decreased estrogen levels, which can weaken the bones and may be another reason why women are more likely to develop stress fractures because of the greater prevalence of eating disorders in women.

The stress that leads to a stress fracture does not have to relate to the pounding related to running, but the pull of overly tight muscles can also be enough. Therefore, injuries in muscles and tendons can lead to stress fractures. Often when a runners is injured, he will compensate by utilizing other muscles and this new use can lead to stress fractures as well.

Diagnosing a Stress Fracture

Only a doctor using an x-ray machine or even an MRI device can diagnose a stress fracture for sure, but many simple methods exist that allow a runner to make a reasonable educated guess at home. If these simple tests indicate that you don't have a stress fracture, please visit the doctor if your injury doesn't go away after a few weeks or if you're worried for any reason.

Stress fractures are acute injuries to the bone, so if you press along the affected area pain should be localized in a small area. If its not then your injury is more likely to be related to the muscle and tendons covering the area. Similarly, stress fractures should get worse throughout the day with additional stress, while injuries involving muscles and tendons tend to loosen up during the day. Because of this, if you feel more pain in the morning after waking up than if you do at night you are more likely to not have a stress fracture.

External Links

• American Academy of Orthapedic Surgeons: Stress Fractures (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=46&topcategory=Sports&searentry=stress%20fractures)
• Health Link: Stress Fractures in Female Athletes (http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/979332792.html)