Stress Fractures

Stress Fracture Specialists

If you have experienced a stress fracture our Sports Medicine team has extensive experience in the management of stress fractures.

Stress fractures are fractures of bone due to repetitive forces rather than a one-off direct force.

Common causes of stress fractures can include increasing training too rapidly or for a biomechanical reason.

During your appointment you can expect the following:
 
History taking where you will be asked several questions related to your stress fracture.

The type of questions you can expect during this consultation include:

• History of the pain, including location, severity, referred pain, things that make the pain worse or better.
• Previous related injuries
• Occupational or Sporting activities
• Past medical history including any medications
• Previous treatments

A physical examination of area of the stress fracture as well as a biomechanical assessment looking for biomechanical reasons for the stress fracture.

If needed to help reach a diagnosis, investigations may be required such as x-rays, MRIs or blood tests.

A diagnosis with explanation in laymans terms (non-medical language that is easy to understand) including biomechanical reasons and training errors

A management plan will then be developed in conjunction with the patient.

Management may consist of:

• education of the condition and why it occurred
• advice on what to do and what to avoid making the condition worse
• exercise programs
• injections
• return to sport or activity programs to prevent recurrence of the injury.
• if required referral to another health professional (physio, exercise physiologist)

 
Below is a list of common conditions seen in patients:

• Navicular and metatarsals (foot)
• Tibia (shin bone)
• Femoral neck (hip)
• Pars (lower back).

It is recommended you make an appointment with a Sports Physician or Physiotherapist as soon as you are injured or experiencing pain so he can immediately diagnose the cause of the problem and provide you with accurate management to help you with your symptoms as soon as possible.

NO GP REFERRAL REQUIRED.