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Lakewood, NJ --- No athlete likes being sidelined – especially by painful injuries. Unfortunately, if you play sports, injuries can be relatively common. One of the most frequent sports injuries athletes encounter are stress fractures. While less severe than a typical fracture or broken bone, the recovery can be complex.
“Overcoming an injury like a stress fracture can be tricky, but it can be done,” says Dr. James Morales, a sports medicine specialist affiliated with Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood. Dr. Morales specializes in non-surgical intervention of orthopedic injuries and joint pain.
According to Dr. Morales, the majority of stress fractures occur in the weight bearing bones of the lower leg and are generally caused by overuse.
“A stress fracture will typically occur when we overwork a particular muscle group,” he explains. “The overworked muscles become fatigued and unable to absorb any additional shock. Eventually the muscles transfer the stress overload to our bones, causing tiny cracks,” Says Dr. Morales.
“Stress fractures often occur when we increase the amount or intensity of an activity too rapidly,” says Dr. Morales. According to the doctor, stress fractures can also be caused by the impact of an unfamiliar surface – a tennis player who has switched from a soft clay court to a hard court for example; from improper equipment – a runner who uses worn or less flexible running shoes; and from increased physical stress – a basketball player who has a sudden increase in playing time.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedics Surgeons (AAOS), athletes who participate in tennis, running, gymnastics, and basketball are most susceptible to stress fractures.
“In reality, though, any sporting activity or exercise that includes the repetitive stress of the foot striking the ground can result in this trauma,” explains Dr. Morales. “Without adequate rest between workouts, games or competitions, all athletes are at risk for developing a stress fracture.”
Pain that comes on with athletic activity, and that subsides with rest, is the most common indication of a stress fracture. While x-rays are often used to help diagnose stress fractures, they’re not always reliable. “Sometimes, a stress fracture can’t be seen on the x-ray and may not appear for several weeks after the onset of pain,” explains Dr. Morales. In those cases, Dr. Morales, notes that a CT scan or MRI may be indicated.
Stress fractures can take anywhere from six to eight weeks to completely heal. During that time, patients can participate in a series of exercises to slowly build strength in fatigued muscles. That, combined with other non-surgical therapies can help speed the healing process. “However, if patients resume the activity that caused the stress fracture too quickly,” notes Dr. Morales, “larger, harder-to-heal stress fractures can develop. Re-injury also could lead to chronic problems where the stress fracture might never heal properly,” he adds.
Ideally, Dr. Morales says taking steps to prevent stress fractures and treating them promptly is the best medicine of all. He offers the following advice:
• When participating in any new sports activity, set incremental goals. For example, don’t start out running five miles a day; instead, gradually build up your mileage on a weekly basis.
• Alternate your activities to achieve the same fitness goals. Instead of running every day to meet cardiovascular goals, run on even days and bike on odd days. Add some strength training and flexibility exercises to the mix for the greatest benefit.
• Maintain a healthy diet. Make sure you incorporate calcium and vitamin D-rich foods – important for bone strength – into your meals.
• Use the proper equipment. Replace old or worn running shoes frequently.
• If pain or swelling occurs, immediately stop the activity and rest for a few days. If continued pain persists, see your doctor for an evaluation.
Recognizing the symptoms of a stress fracture, and seeking treatment promptly, can keep you from being sidelined for long and enable you to return to your favorite sport or activity ready and able to participate!
To contact or schedule an appointment with Dr. James Morales, or another sports medicine physician on staff at Kimball Medical Center, please call the Saint Barnabas Health Care Link at 1-888-SBHS-123 (888-724-7123).
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director of Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@sbhcs.com
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