Stress Fracture Research Paper

Injury Rehabilitation: Stress Fracture in the Foot

Allyson J. Perry

Millbrook High School

Stress fractures, a tiny crack in a bone caused by repetitive stress or force, often from overuse. Having a stress fracture in the foot affects other parts of the foot other than just the injured site, the other anatomy of the foot that is involved is the metatarsals, calcaneus, fibula, tibia, talus, and the navicular. The signs and symptoms include swelling on top of the foot and/or on the outside of the ankle, pain while resting, pain that occurs and increases while doing daily activities, tenderness when touched, and possible bruising. The statistics show that out of the 51,773 sports-related injuries, 389 of the injuries were stress fractures. The

Equipment may need to be checked, athlete needs to have enough calcium and vitamin D and needs to take a break from regular exercise when on vacation. If the athlete does not have an off-season and does one sport year-round; they are at risk of getting injuries, doing another type of sport or exercise can relieve stress that the body has (Metatarsal Stress Fracture). When an athlete thinks that he or she has a stress fracture, the athletic trainer has to do a set of special test to evaluate the area to get a proper diagnoses. A special test that can be used is the “Fracture test,” where the athlete is supine or seated with his/her feet off the end of the table. The athletic trainer then grasps the foot around the mid-shaft of the metatarsal and squeezes metatarsals or compresses the bone. If there is a fracture, the athlete will feel pain in the foot. A second test that could be used is the “Percussion test,” where the athlete is sitting with the involved leg off the end of the table, the athletic trainer then taps distally from the involved structure. If there is pain

A third test that could be used to evaluate a stress fracture is the “Squeeze test,” where the athlete is sitting or lying with his or her ankle extended. The athletic trainer then cups his or her hands around the foot then compresses the foot, gradually adding more pressure. If there is pain in the area of complaint, there is a possible fracture. The fourth test that could be use is the “Heel Tap (Bump) test,” where the athlete is sitting or lying supine with the foot involved hanging off the end of the table and their knee straight. The athletic trainer