Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are fatigue-induced fractures that occur in a normal bone without obvious trauma. They result from repeated stress over time and are typically seen as overuse injuries in athletes. This condition is distinct from the category of “pathologic fractures” and can be misleading because of its clinical and radiological presentation. Stress fractures have some characteristics: Recurrence occurs after early return to previous activities without observing a sufficient period of rest; continuous physical activities commonly results in progression to a complete fracture; some particular locations may have significant mechanical consequences and serious repercussions on the future sports activities.