Stress fractures are overuse injuries. They occur when muscles become fatigued. Fatigued muscles are unable to absorb the load and impact from running, which is therefore transferred to the bone, causing a fracture. Stress fractures can also be caused by conditions that weaken the bone such as osteoporosis. Therefore the two types of stress fracture are: Excessive force through a normal bone Excessive force through an abnormal bone Female athletes are more susceptible to developing stress fractures due to a condition referred to as the ‘female athlete triad’: Eating disorders (bulimia or anorexia), Amenorrhea (infrequent menstrual cycle) Osteoporosis (reduced bone density) Stress fractures most commonly occur through the metatarsals, navicular, … Continue reading Stress Fractures: How physiotherapy can help