What are the symptoms of overuse injuries?
Athletes with stress fractures usually complain of pain that seems to worsen over time. This is the first signal that the bone cannot withstand the physical stress to which it is being subjected. This pain is often felt at the time of impact. Pressing on the sight of a stress fracture will elicit great pain and there may be swelling around the affected area. As activity is modified to eliminate discomfort, the pain associated with a stress fracture should subside. Who is most susceptible to stress fractures? Medical studies have shown that female athletes are more susceptible to stress fractures. This is attributed to the more frequent occurrence of reduced bone density, eating disorders, and infrequent menstrual cycle in women. Athletes who participate in running sports and repetitive loading sports, such as ballet and figure skating, have a greater risk of developing stress fractures because the repetitive stress of the landing on a hard surface can cause injury. Adolescents are espe
