1. Patient feels or hears the bone break.
2. Grating sound when limbs are moved.
3. Tenderness around the injury site.
4. Partial or complete loss of motion.
5. Deformity and abnormal motion at fracture site, such as arm bending but not at the elbow.
6. Muscle spasms.How Stress Fractures Develop
1. Casual event
2. Pain after exercise only and relieved by short rest
3. Pain tolerable during exercise but more marked after exertion and relieved by longer rest
4. Pain intolerable during and after exercise and partially relieved by long rest
5. Constant pain not relieved by rest
Signs of Stress Fractures
1. Point tenderness of bone (except well-shielded femur)
2. Soft-tissue swelling
3. Palpation of callus (with time)
4. Alteration of gait
5. Muscular atrophy, especially anterior tibial and gastrocnemius-soleus groups
6. Full and painless range of motion of adjacent joints
7. Painless resisted active movement of joint
Treatment of Stress Fractures
1. Rest from running
2. Relieve symptomatic inflammation with ice and anti-inflammatory agent
3. Maintain strength (especially foot dorsum and plantar flexors)
4. Maintain cardiovascular fitness with swimming and/or biking
5. Orthotics tailored to need
6. When asymptomatic, gradually reintroduce running
Source: The Physician and Sportsmedicine
1. Patient feels or hears the bone break.
2. Grating sound when limbs are moved.
3. Tenderness around the injury site.
4. Partial or complete loss of motion.
5. Deformity and abnormal motion at fracture site, such as arm bending but not at the elbow.
6. Muscle spasms.
