How does a stress fracture occur?
A stress fracture is one type of incomplete fracture in bones. It is caused by “unusual or repeated stress”. This is in contrast to other types of fractures, which are usually characterized by a solitary, severe impact. It could be described as a very small sliver or crack in the bone and this is why it is sometimes dubbed “hairline fracture”. It typically occurs in weight-bearing bones, such as the tibia (bone of the lower leg) and metatarsals (bones of the foot). It is a common sports injury, and more than half of the cases are associated with athletics.
