Being in pain is never fun! If you are an athlete or relatively active person, you are always at risk of suffering an injury while you are participating in your favorite activity. Sometimes, minor injuries like stress fractures can really put a damper on your exercise routine.

While stress fractures are not a full break of your bone, they can still be painful and can lead to further complications if they are not diagnosed and treated. Come see us at AFC Urgent Care Greenwood if you are in pain, and check out our latest blog explaining stress fractures below.

How Do Stress Fracture Occur?

Stress fractures often happen due to some type of repetitive motion. For example, jumping up and down or long-distance running can put constant pressure on your bones that can eventually cause a small crack to appear.

These types of injuries often occur in athletes and are most common in the lower leg or feet. They can also happen in other areas like your arms or ribs. You don’t have to be an athlete to suffer from a stress fracture. If you have weaker bones due to a medical condition or poor nutrition, you can experience a stress fracture during everyday activities.

Symptoms Associated With a Stress Fracture

• Pain when exercising
• Tenderness at the site
• Mild swelling and redness
• Pain that gets worse over time

Can AFC Help With My Stress Fracture?

We sure can! If you are concerned that your pain is related to a stress fracture, we can help diagnose you with a quick digital X-ray. Once we know the location of the injury, we can offer some tips on the best ways to aid in your recovery.

Most stress fractures can be healed with rest and taking a break from whatever activity originally caused the injury. Sometimes a cast or a splint can be used, but not always! If you don’t rest and wait for the fracture to heal, you could make it worse and even cause a full break of the affected bone.

Avoiding Stress Fractures

• Always warm up slowly before activity.
• Eat a healthy diet full of calcium and vitamin D.
• Stop any activity that is causing you pain.
• Use the right equipment and well-fitting shoes during exercise.

If you suspect a stress fracture or a broken bone, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Greenwood.