Causes of Stress Fractures
Overuse injuries are nearly invariably the cause of stress fractures. This indicates that they develop when a bone experiences excessive pressure or when it is not given enough time to heal following an activity. While you engage in repetitive action, such as while practicing for a sport or doing the same kind of movement all day at work, stress fractures typically occur gradually over time.
Stress fractures begin as bone surface inflammation (commonly referred to by medical professionals as a stress reaction). Stress reactions resemble severe bone bruising. A stress fracture can result from your bone cracking if pressure is applied to the same area repeatedly before the stress reaction has had time to heal. Gradually, the bruise will penetrate more into the bone until it weakens to the point of breaking. At that point, a stress reaction turns into a stress fracture.
Here are some of the most common causes of stress fractures:
- Starting a new sport or physical activity without the right equipment, training or guidance
- Excessive training without resting enough
- Quickly increasing your activity level (suddenly ramping up workouts, training or other physical activity)
- Change in the surface you train or work on, for example changing from running on a treadmill to running on the road, or starting a job that requires you to stand on a hard floor like concrete.
- Working or training without proper equipment
- Specializing in one sport too early (children who play the same sport year-round without a break between seasons are more likely to experience a stress fracture than kids who play a variety of sports).