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Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone. They are usually caused by repetitive force such as running long distances or jumping up and down. However, they can also occur in bone that is weakened by osteoporosis.
They are most commonly found in weight bearing bones of the lower limb and are very common in people who play sports or go running. People who have flat feet or high arches can benefit from orthotics in their shoes. You can have a stress fracture in the vertebrae of your low back which may cause pain (collapsed vertebra).
Stress fractures are usually caused by repeated stress over time. Rather than resulting from a single severe trauma, stress fractures result from an accumulation of impact from repeated loading, such as running or jumping.
A new stress fracture on an x-ray doesn’t usually show up. However, x-rays can be used 3 weeks after the onset of pain when the bone begins to remodel.
MRIs will usually detect stress fractures within the first week of injury.
Stress fractures are more common in track athletes, basketball and tennis players, dancers and gymnasts. Going suddenly from not doing much exercise to doing a lot of exercise is another risk factor. People who have flat or pronated feet can develop stress fractures and if you have had them before you are more likely to get them again. A slim female track athlete can suffer poor bone mineralisation and can also be at risk from stress fracture.
Check out our services pages to find out more about these therapies. Practitioners are trained to treat most conditions but do this in slightly different ways. They work together to find the best treatment most suited to your condition.
Usually complete rest from pain-provoking activity for 4 – 8 weeks is the best management option for stress fractures. Thereafter, activities can gradually resume as pain allows. Our running clinic assessment, orthotics and gait analysis with advice about footwear may be necessary. Exercises and daily stretches are important for recovery.
Just wanted to say please pass my thanks to my osteopath, I came yesterday with terrible back and shoulder pain and today I am pain free, am well delighted as had a day planned with friends was worried I wouldn’t enjoy, please pass my thanks onto her.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Lorena has changed my life. Four months ago, having been diagnosed as having “severe, acute and chronic” disc degeneration I genuinely thought I was facing a life of disability (I am 49).
Lorena has re-taught me how to move my body and how to think about what muscles I engage to a point that I am now running, swimming and doing pilates again and have almost full flexibility in my spine. It almost feels like Lorena can see through your skin to your muscles, so profound is her understanding of how the body moves.
Following treatment at Blackberry Clinic, Milton Keynes my back pain improved and I could play for my country again
After a course of Prolotherapy my back pain has gone and I live a normal life. I can’t thank Dr Petrides enough for giving me back my quality of life
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