What are the causes of stress fractures?
Stress fractures are caused by repetitive force and overuse – such as repeatedly jumping up and down or running long distances. Stress fractures also can result from normal use of a bone that’s been weakened by disease. There are two types of stress fractures: • Fatigue fractures: If a bone is subjected to overuse or repetitive stress beyond its ability to repair itself, it may crack. These fractures occur during high-impact activities and after prolonged low-impact activities. • Insufficiency fractures: When a bone cracks during routine activity, it’s often because the bone was in a weakened state to begin with. For example, insufficiency fractures can happen to people with osteoporosis. Initially, stress fractures may be barely noticeable. But any pain is a red flag. With proper self-care, professional care, and treatment you can keep the stress fracture from worsening.
