STRESS FRACTURES-MANAGEMENT

SUMMARY

1. Initial treatment includes pain management, activity modification, strengthening, fitness maintenance, and risk factor modification.

2. Once healing is underway and pain is minimal, the gradual resumption of the impact-loading phase of rehabilitation begins.

3. Use crutches to minimize weight-bearing for the first 7-10 days.

4. Activity modification includes eliminating impact activities for a period until daily ambulation is pain free.

5. Radiologic healing lags behind clinical healing. Most heal in 4-8 weeks.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].