Top Signs That You May Have Stress Ankle Fracture

​Did you know that women have a greater tendency to experience stress ankle fractures than males? Further, did you know that stress ankle fractures account for almost 50% of bone stress injuries reported among athletes? Similarly, between 1% and 15% of the general athletic population experiences stress ankle fractures at least once in a lifetime.

Considering these statistics, stress fractures can be classified as common injuries among physically active individuals (particularly athletes). While stress ankle fractures are worse than sprains, their effects cannot be as damaging as bone breaks. Nonetheless, stress ankle fractures must be taken seriously as they may worsen with time.

If you are looking for help with stress fracture situations related to your foot and ankle or want to know how to prevent stress fractures, work with our professional team at Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists today. We have experience with stress fractures, understand weight-bearing bones, metatarsal bones, and various other factors.
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Whether we need to conduct a bone scan, talk to you about physical activity, bone density, a healthy diet, or repetitive stress, our professional team at Atlanta Bone and Joint is here for you.


What Is a Stress Ankle Fracture, and How Does It Occur?

Stress ankle fractures are the tiny cracks that occur when you expose your ankle to repetitive motion. In particular, stress ankle fractures occur due to the vigorous movements in your feet that cause repeated strains on the bones of the ankle.

Remember, your ankle bones will develop tiny hairline cracks in response to excessive pressures resulting from the repeated strains. Therefore, you need to be extra careful with stress ankle fractures as they may develop into deeper cracks over time without proper treatment or modification of your activities.

Stress fractures are commonly noticed in the ankle and feet because the bones in these regions are tiny and hold a lot of strains and stress. In most cases, stress ankle fractures cannot be identified on an initial X-ray. As such, your physician will use other forms of advanced technologies like MRI for detection.


Signs and Symptoms of a Stress Ankle Fracture

The signs and symptoms of stress ankle fractures are easily noticeable. Unfortunately, there are instances where you may ignore these symptoms, particularly when they are mild. Nonetheless, people with stress ankle fractures will, in most cases, complain about pains. Well, here are the other signs and symptoms of stress ankle fractures:

• Arching and swelling at the region of the fracture.
• Tenderness/ pinpoint pains when the fractured area is touched.
• Consistent pain starts at the beginning of physical activity but stops when you rest.
• Bruising and, in some cases, swelling in the affected region.
• Discomfort when you expose the injured area to pressure, particularly when standing up or when you are in motion.
• Swelling in the ankle region or at the top of your foot.

You are advised to seek proper medical evaluation whenever you experience these symptoms. Your medic will help you access a befitting treatment strategy and evade further damages to the affected bones.

Remember, the pain may become severe if you fail to treat it at an early stage. Similarly, there are times where the fracture could move out of its normal alignment if you don't treat it as early as needed.

Speak with your professional medical team at Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists if you have questions about how people develop stress fractures, the risk factors involved, and how to prevent early muscle fatigue.


Diagnosis and Treatment of a Stress Ankle Fracture

Your physician may need to conduct a series of tests and examinations to reveal the presence and severity of a stress ankle fracture. The diagnostic components will include:

• Physical examinations on the first visit with discussions on your work activity, medical history, medications, and potential risk factors.
• X-rays to look for the fracture.
• Bone scan to help your physician identify the stress fractures that may not be identified using X-ray. Bone scans use a radioactive substance known as a tracer which collects and settles in the area of the bone that needs to be repaired.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) collects detailed images of the injured point using large magnetic radio waves.

Recovery Time for a Stress Ankle Fracture

Now, there's no specific recovery time for a stress ankle fracture. The healing time strongly depends on your lifestyle choices, the adversity of the fracture, and the quality of treatment you receive. In particular, the simplest way to recover from an ankle stress fracture is to take a break from your physical activities.

Treatment for Stress Fractures and Related Issues

It might take a couple of weeks to get total recovery from stress ankle fractures if you follow your physician's instructions and go a little dormant. The RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) will help you recover at a quicker rate. You may also take a few moments to immobilize the affected bones.

Remember, misdiagnosis, inadequate treatment, and increased activity in the affected region could worsen the stress ankle fracture. At times, the stress fracture may advance into a full fracture characterized by intense pains and displacement of the affected bone.


Prevention Tips for Avoiding a Stress Ankle Fracture

Do you remember the old saying, 'prevention is better than cure?" Though common, stress ankle fractures can be avoided. Now, here are the prevention tips for avoiding stress ankle fractures:

• Stop exercising if any moment you feel pain in your ankle region. Be sure to return to exercise after the pain is gone.
• Consult with your physician as soon as you notice that your ankle is causing persistent discomfort.
• Only use the right sports equipment.
• Get yourself a proper pair of running shoes.
• Switch to a new physical activity (you may replace running with swimming).
• Increase your sporting frequency (time and speed) gradually.
• Get strength training to prevent muscle fatigue.
• Get a healthy diet.
• Get the help of a sports nutritionist.
• Optimize your bone health.

Need Help With Stress Ankle Fracture? Reach Out to Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists Today.

We are here to help you find the right treatment for your foot and ankle issues. All it takes is a phone call or an appointment request on our website today. Our team in Atlanta Bone and Joint Specialists will be happy to walk you through what we can do, whether that's addressing the need for protective footwear or talking about overuse injuries with you. Reach out today!