There will be tenderness directly over the affected bone, diffuse swelling, and an asymmetrical gait or limp. Stress fractures do not usually involve reduced range of motion or muscle atrophy. Stress fractures exhibit a variety of symptoms that are common to other injuries as well. Positive differentiation between stress fractures and other possible causes requires x-rays or other diagnostic methods. Several factors have been found to increase a runner s risk of incurring a stress fracture.
Female runners have a higher percentage of stress fractures than males.
Caucasians are more at risk than other groups. Abnormal foot structures or deformities increase the likelihood of a stress fracture as does an increase in activity level without proper conditioning. According to Ortega, the general treatment plan for a stress fracture begins by halting all running. Exercise programs can increase flexibility and muscle mass, and it is often a good idea to change to an alternate form of aerobic exercise like swimming or biking to maintain cardiovascular conditioning. He adds that a runner should stretch properly before and after a run and never run in pain.