What is the treatment for tibial stress fracture?

Patients with tibial stress fracture may use a pneumatic compression device to reduce the time to resumption of full activity. Bone stimulators should not be used for the treatment of most stress fractures. Shock-absorbing orthotics and footwear modification may reduce the occurrence of lower extremity stress injury.

What is the best treatment for a stress fracture?

Medical Treatment for Stress Fractures

• Rest. Rest is the most important part of treating a stress fracture.
• Casts and Braces. Doctors may recommend that you use crutches or a walking boot or brace for a few weeks to reduce or eliminate stress on the injured bone.
• Electronic Bone Stimulation.
• Pain Relief.

What activities can you do with a stress fracture?

There are several types of low-impact exercises to do while the stress fracture heals.

• Water Exercising. Swimming and other water exercises like squats, knee extensions and even deep water running are great to do with a stress fracture.
• Seated Resistance Exercising.
• Stationary Bike Exercising.
• Weight Lifting.

Can you walk with a tibia stress fracture?

Doctors do not recommend walking when you have a stress fracture because it may reopen the partially healed fracture, and you may have to begin the recovery process again. Although you can walk, doctors would recommend staying away from hard surfaces and not walking long distances.

Can a stress fracture be missed on an MRI?

MRI of Stress Fractures Further, less common stress fractures or difficult-to-detect stress fractures can be overlooked by less experienced or more general radiologists.

Does a tibial stress fracture require a cast?

A stress fracture of the shin is a thin break caused by repetitive, high-impact exercise. Treatment includes getting adequate rest and backing off intense exercise until it heals. Severe or hard-to-heal fractures may require using crutches, wearing a cast, or surgery. Full recovery can take 4 to 12 weeks.

Can a physical therapist diagnose a stress fracture?

Your physical therapist will perform gentle physical tests to help determine the likelihood that you have an activity-related lower extremity stress fracture.

How can you detect a stress fracture at home?

Identifying Stress Fracture Symptoms And according to Metzl, there are three main ways to identify one at home: point tenderness, swelling, and changes in your typical running form. If you experience point tenderness—when a specific bone is sore to the touch—that could signal a stress fracture.

Can I train legs with stress fracture?

Pain is your best guide. If it hurts or increases your pain, don’t do it. Weight training activity is encouraged for all athletes as part of a general fitness program. Avoid any lifting with your injured extremity.

What are the symptoms of a tibial stress fracture?

Symptoms of Tibial Stress Fracture. Pain is present in the outer region of lower third of the tibia.

Can you play with a tibial stress fracture?

Risks of playing sports with a tibial stress fracture. There are two main risks with continuing to play or train on a tibial stress fracture. The first is unlikely but potentially devastating . The athlete could be running or jumping, and the stress could finally cause a complete fracture. That’s right. Snap. The tibia breaks, and the leg is floppy.

How to prevent tibia stress fractures?

How to Prevent Shin Splints and Stress Fractures. Check with your AT to make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear. Maintain a healthy diet. Ask a medical professional if you should supplement vitamin D and/or calcium. Work with your athletic trainer to modify your training schedule to reduce repetitive stress.

What is the healing time for a stress fracture?

Rest is the key to the initial treatment of a stress fracture. A walking boot or brace along with a cast or crutches may be needed to help rest the injured area and limit the amount of weight bearing allowed. Healing time may be 4-12 weeks, depending upon the bone involved, before gradual increases in activity may be resumed.