Diagnosing Stress Fractures
A healthcare provider will usually diagnose stress fractures with a physical exam. They might use imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis and get images of the fracture. They will examine the part of the body that hurts. Discuss with them what you were when the pain started and what you were doing at the moment.
Your provider might request that you stand and hop on one leg and then the other. This is so they can understand where you might have a stress fracture, and how much it affects your ability to move normally.
Tests that can help diagnose stress fractures
Your provider might use some of the following tests to take pictures of your bones:
- Computed tomography (CT) scan [5]
- X-rays [6]
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [7]
- Whole body scan