A fatigue fracture is not related to a sudden injury like a normal bone fracture. The fatigue fracture occurs gradually, up to several weeks. Runners are most at risk of this type of fracture, although it can also occur in people who work for many hours while standing. What are the causes and symptoms of a fatigue fracture? What is the treatment?

Fatigue fracturestands forstress fracture , stress fracture, slow fracture or marching fracture. Fatigue fracture may be localized in many places of the osteoarticular system, but most often it concerns the tibia. In addition, it often occurs in the metatarsal, calcaneus and fibula bones.

Fatigue fracture - causes and risk factors

A fatigue fracture is not the result of a sudden, single injury - as is the case with an ordinary fracture. A fatigue fracture is caused by minor, but often and long-repeated, microtrauma to the bones, as well as excessive strain on the ligaments and muscle fatigue. Therefore, people who regularly play sports (especially runners), but do it inappropriately, are the most likely to suffer from fatigue fracture.

Athletes, volleyball players, rowers, basketball players, tennis players and footballers are also at risk of fatigue fracture.

A fatigue fracture in people practicing sports may occur when:

  • do not prepare properly for training (no warm-up);
  • have badly structured training, which assumes too much load and too long duration of the effort;
  • they train too often, and thus - they do not spend enough time regenerating bones, joints and ligaments after exercise;
  • exercise on hard ground and in poorly selected footwear that does not absorb shocks;
  • practice several sports that burden the osteoarticular system at the same time (e.g. running and squash or tennis);
  • use an incorrect diet (especially low in calcium and vitamin D - substances that are needed by bones);
  • struggle with obesity;

In addition, the fatigue fracture concerns people who work for many hours in a standing position, as well as those working with vibrating tools, as well as dancers (including ballerinas).

Zin turn, factors increasing the risk of fatigue fractures are post-traumatic bone deformities, diseases of the osteoarticular system (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis) and surgeries (e.g. corrective osteotomy). It is worth knowing that women are 12 times more likely to suffer from fatigue fractures than men, and the risk increases with menstrual disorders.

Fatigue fracture - symptoms

At first, slight pain appears after exercise. However, later the pain increases, and it also occurs during training and even during daily activities. Over time, the pain is well-located and you may feel a lump on the bone.

Fatigue fractures suggest bone pain lasting several days, despite no injuries.

Fatigue fracture - diagnostics

If a fatigue fracture is suspected, bone X-ray or ultrasound is performed, but these tests may not be sufficient if the fracture is in the early stage (because it is simply invisible). In this case, bone scintigraphy is usually performed.

Fatigue fracture - treatment

It is usually recommended to unload the affected limb until the bone heals. Rehabilitation is also necessary. Physical therapy (laser therapy, ultrasound) can help - as for an ordinary fracture. You can return to physical activity (e.g. running) after about three months of rehabilitation.

In case of bone fragments displacement, surgical treatment is indicated.

This will be useful to you

Fatigue fracture - how to prevent it?

1. You should not suddenly increase training loads and extend training time, but gradually increase the number of repetitions, kilometers or kilograms so that the body can adapt to these changes. You should take care of breaks between workouts - it is the time to regenerate the osteoarticular system. 3. Adequate diet should be used to replenish the deficiencies caused by training (in women this is especially true of calcium). 4. Please wear appropriate footwear (different running shoes and fitness shoes).

Category:

Spine, bones, joints