Cracking Under Too Much Stress?

Calcaneus (heel bone) fracture X-ray (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When tiny little cracks appear in a bone that carries an overload in a certain area, they are referred to as stress fractures. This is a common overuse injury in high impact repetitive sports such as jogging, basketball and soccer.  However, they are also frequently seen in performing artists, such as ballet dancers due to the jumping and toe work involved.  Risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of stress fractures include improper diet, in the quest to be thin and poor training habits that include grueling hours of rehearsal and performance. Sometimes the body cannot maintain its adaptive pace to keep up with the increased demands placed on it.

Even though a stress fracture can occur in any bone, it is most frequent in the shin and foot. This is because these areas support the weight of the body and no other area of the body is under that amount of load.  Healing time for a stress fracture is usually four to eight weeks and if sufficient time is not allowed, the injury is likely to recur and perhaps worsen. Even when the area is completely healed, stiffness and reduced mobility can be an issue. 

The best treatment for stress fractures is complete rest and avoidance of the aggravating activity. As long as there is not a chance that the stress fracture could become a complete fracture, or become displaced, rest is probably sufficient. Sometimes total weight bearing avoidance is necessary for healing. If it hurts, don’t do it, seems to be the treatment rule. Icing the injury can help with pain and swelling, as well as, over-the-counter pain medication and supportive footwear.

As was previously mentioned, dancers are not only athletes, but also performing artists.  They are very body conscious and need to be strong but appear waif-like. Nutrition can become a major concern when enough fat, calories and calcium are not consumed to keep the bones strong. Eating disorders, continual vigorous exercise and poor nutrition combine to reduce bone density. This can lead to increased probability of stress fractures.

Any suspected stress fracture needs to be checked out at once. Continued weight and stress can further complicate the issue. Please contact Dr. Boucher at (203) 238-3668 to set up an appointment. Her medical expertise and familiarity with the dancing community can definitely work in your favor. She is familiar with the rigors of the art and will work with you to resolve your foot and ankle concerns without compromising your best interests.

References:

http://www.granitemedical.com/health_education/health_tips/foot/stress-fractures.cfm
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/otherfractures/a/stressfracture.htm
http://www.footdynamics.com/your-feet/articles/ballet-dancers/

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