Stress Fracture

A stress fracture is an overuse injury. It occurs when muscles become fatigued and are unable to soak up added shock. Eventually, the fatigued muscle transfers the overload of stress to the bone causing a small crack called a fatigue fracture . Stress fractures often are the results of increasing the quantity or intensity of an activity too rapidly. They can also be caused by the impact of an unfamiliar surface (a athlete who has switched surfaces from a soft clay court to a tough court); improper equipment (a runner using worn or less flexible shoes); and increased physical stress (a basketeer who has had a considerable increase in playing time). Most stress fractures occur within the weightbearing bones of the lower leg and therefore the foot. More than 50 percent of all stress fractures occur within the lower leg. Studies have shown that athletes participating in tennis, track and field, gymnastics, and basketball are very vulnerable to stress fractures. In all of those sports, the repetitive stress of the foot striking the bottom can cause trauma. Without sufficient rest between workouts or competitions, an athlete is in danger for developing a fatigue fracture . As a female's bone mass decreases, her chances of getting a fatigue fracture increase

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