Stress Fracture

Stress fracture is one of the most common injuries that can happen to a person due to excess stress. Stress fractures are common for people who are involved in physical sports. A stress fracture is a fracture normally occurring mainly in the hands and the feet due to due to overuse of body parts. Stress fracture occurs when the muscles are no longer able to absorb the added shock due to stress. As a result the pressure is transferred to the bone which eventually leads to stress fracture. As mentioned before, stress fracture is a result of intense pressure on the muscles. Stress fractures often occur due to the intensity of the activity. Stress fracture can also occur due to sporting activities on uneven surfaces as well the use of improper equipment and increased physical stress. It has often been observed that female sportspersons are more prone to stress fractures than their male counterparts. This is because the body of the women is definitely not as strong as that of a man and the woman's body to resist stress is not as good as that of man. Due to excess stress in the bones, the density of the bones begin to decrease gradually as a result of which the bones are not able to undertake any pressure or shocks as before. As a result the risk of suffering from a bone fracture as well as osteoporosis increases tenfold. Most of the stress fractures occur in the feet and the legs area because these two body parts are exposed to maximum pressure and shocks. They support the whole upper frame of the body and hence all the weight comes down on the legs and the feet. The most common sports in which athletes sustain stress fractures are track and field events, gymnastics, tennis, basketball, soccer, cricket and badminton. A stress fracture can be major or minor. Minor stress fractures require the athlete to rest for a few days and the leg or the foot is bandaged. A major stress fracture requires surgery in most cases and it can throw an athlete out of action for months together. Hence it is necessary for the athlete to take a sufficient rest and a break from the strenuous activity. Also playing the sport with the right technique can reduce the chances of a stress fracture by almost 50%. Stress Fractures.