As a result of the current global situation, many people have had to adapt their exercise regimes. Due to the lockdown restrictions, which include the closures of gyms and fitness centres around the UK, running has become a popular choice for cardiovascular exercise.
It is a well known fact that running has many health benefits; however people should be aware of the risks associated with the increased loads on the body, in particular, the bones. One type of injury that may arise in this scenario is the stress fracture.
A stress fracture is a relatively small break in the bone which typically develops from a repetitive force to the bone as opposed to a single traumatic incident. This type of overuse injury can occur when the structural capacity of the bone overloaded. Incremental damage to the bone might occur if it isn’t strong enough or if there is insufficient time to adapt to the increased loads. Stress fractures most commonly occur in the bones of the lower limb and runners tend to get stress fractures in their leg bones, feet and hips.
Increasing the volume of running, or doing too much too soon is a common mechanism of injury for stress fractures. Other predisposing factors include the following:
Physical symptoms can vary but are commonly characterised by the following:
The best way to minimise the risk of a stress fracture is to avoid any sudden changes to your training program. Planning your program in advance is useful to ensure you are making realistic goals and you are gradually increasing mileage over a longer period of time.
If you are a novice runner, it is a good idea to choose a running program that incorporates run-walk intervals such as the Couch to 5k. Avoid running on consecutive days to allow the body to recover between runs. As a general rule of thumb, avoid increasing your weekly mileage by more than 15%. This rule applies to seasoned runners as well. Remember that the most common cause of stress fractures is doing too much too soon. This could include increasing the length of your runs or increasing the frequency of runs thereby reducing the time required for the body to recover and adapt.
Other preventative measures you should consider are the following:
If you have been diagnosed with a stress fracture your treatment will include a period of relative rest or de-loading for several months, depending on the sports doctor’s advice. For example, if the stress fracture is in your foot, you may be instructed to wear an aircast boot and use crutches to avoid putting any weight through the injured area.
Early detection of stress fractures is important to ensure successful healing and allow for a quicker recovery. An MRI is a great diagnostic tool as it is the most sensitive modality and it can differentiate soft tissue injuries from bone injuries.
If you suspect you have a stress fracture, you should book an initial consultation with one of our physios or sports doctors immediately.
For more information on stress fractures, please see the blog What are Stress Fractures? Written by James Noake, Rebecca Christenson and Linia Patel.
What are stress fractures, how are they caused, diagnosed and managed? Our Consultant in Sport, Exercise & Musculoskeletal Medicine, Physiotherapist and Dietitian discuss.