5 Signs of a Stress Fracture from Running

 Participating in athletics — whether you do it for fun or at a professional level — always puts you at risk for injury. And stress fractures are a common one, especially when your training routine includes a lot of running. 

A stress fracture is a very small crack in your bone or severe bone bruising. As the name suggests, they happen when too much stress is placed on the bone and small cracks develop. 

Stress fractures are considered an overuse injury since they occur when you train too hard for too long and don’t allow any time for effective recovery. The bones in your feet and lower legs are especially vulnerable to fractures since they bear so much weight and absorb a lot of impact when you run.

At San Feliz Urgent Care in Glendale, California, our urgent care team has the expertise to accurately diagnose and treat minor injuries such as stress fractures. Here, we discuss this common running-related injury, including the signs that you’re dealing with one.

How do stress fractures develop?

Your bones are in a constant state of remodeling, meaning new bone is always replacing the old. When you put a lot of repeated stress on weight-bearing bones during athletic movements (like running), the old bone starts breaking down faster and new bone can’t replace it fast enough. This puts your bones in a much weaker state, vulnerable to bruising and cracking. 

Many times, stress fractures happen when you do high-intensity training for long periods and don’t give your body time to rest and recover. They can also occur when you try out a new exercise, suddenly increase workout intensity, wear poor-fitting shoes, or change what type of surface you’re running on. 

Do you have a stress fracture?

Pain is a big indicator that you have a stress fracture, but pain can also come with a myriad of other issues and isn’t unique to stress fractures. So, here are some telltale signs that you probably have a stress fracture on your hands:

1. Your pain doesn’t go away while at rest
2. Your pain persists during normal daily activities
3. The pain site is tender to the touch
4. There’s bruising around the pain site
5. You have swelling around the pain site

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms of a stress fracture, it’s important that you seek care quickly. An untreated stress fracture may not heal properly and then cause repeated fractures down the road. 

Our team can perform a physical exam to confirm a stress fracture and then recommend a treatment plan that will encourage proper healing. 

To get started with expert-level fracture care, schedule an appointment with our team by calling or using our online booking feature today.