A partial or complete fracture of the bone as a consequence of overuse.
Incidence:
Stress fractures account for approximately 10% of all sporting injuries. They commonly occur in bones of the leg and foot including the tibia, navicular, metatarsals and sesamoids.
Symptoms:
Onset is often slow and varied. However, the first signs may be sharp, localised pain in the same area of the stress fracture, with a particular activity. Often rest aleviates pain while activity worsens the condition. Commonly there will be pain in the area at night.
Causes:
- Overuse
- Poor foor biomechanics
- Incorrect footwear
- Incorrect training techniques, such as:
- a dramatic increase in training
- a hard running surface
- Muscle imbalances
Treatment:
- Rest
- Correct poor foot biomechanics, possible witht the use of prescribed orthoses
- Education on correct training technique
- Muscle stretching and strengthening program
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