Regular exercise is encouraged throughout your entire life. In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, exercise also helps your body function at its best. While exercise should be a priority in your life, there is always the possibility of injury during physical activity.

Common injuries like strains or twisted ankles can be remedied with a few days of rest, but certain injuries like stress fractures require a more intensive recovery.

If you are experiencing pain during exercise, stop what you are doing and come see us at AFC Urgent Care Memphis for a diagnosis right away.

Will It Be Obvious That I Have a Stress Fracture?

The tricky thing about stress fractures is that they typically don’t occur in a singular event like traditional fractures do. In those instances, the injury occurs quickly, or acutely. Stress fractures typically appear over a period of time due to some type of overuse.

Stress fractures are common in the weight-bearing bones in your feet and legs and are usually caused by some type of repeated motion that puts too much pressure on the affected bone. Over time, the pressure becomes too much and little cracks can appear along the bone.

Common Symptoms of a Stress Fracture

• Pain when exercising
• Tenderness at the site
• Mild swelling and redness
• Pain that gets worse over time

How Long Does It Take to Heal a Stress Fracture?

While everyone is different, stress fractures can take up to eight weeks to fully heal. While that may seem like a long time for someone who is active, it is crucial to rest and avoid the activity that caused the injury.

If you ignore the pain and participate anyway, you could further your fracture or even completely break your bone. Low-impact exercises that may be OK during this time are swimming or gentle yoga, but only participate in these activities if cleared by a medical provider.

Common Activities That Cause Stress Fractures

• Long-distance running
• Dance
• Gymnastics
• Track and field events

If you are experiencing pain in your legs or feet during exercise, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Memphis.