Can Stress Fractures Be Managed with Physiotherapy in Distance Runners?

By Lilyanne Rice - On Jun 15, 2024

Stress fractures are a common injury among distance runners, presenting a significant challenge due to the demand these injuries place on the body. Given the repetitive impact and stress of long-distance running, the bones can develop small cracks, leading to pain and prolonged recovery times if not properly managed. One effective approach to overcoming these injuries is through sports physiotherapy, particularly with a focus on rehabilitation tailored to athletes.

Sports physiotherapy in Edmonton offers targeted treatment and preventive strategies that are crucial for runners who face this condition. By integrating strength training, biomechanical assessments, and specific conditioning programs, physiotherapy not only aids in the recovery from stress fractures but also minimizes the risk of their recurrence. These therapeutic interventions address the symptoms and the root causes of stress fractures, ensuring runners can return to their sport safely and effectively.

Rest and Recovery

In sports physiotherapy in Edmonton, the cornerstone of managing stress fractures among distance runners is enforcing an adequate rest period. This strategy ensures the natural healing of the bone by removing the stresses that caused the injury. Sports physiotherapists emphasize the cessation of running and other high-impact activities to prevent aggravation of the fracture. During this rest phase, they recommend alternative forms of exercise that maintain cardiovascular fitness without impacting the injured area. Swimming and cycling are preferred as they are non-weight-bearing activities that allow athletes to stay active while significantly reducing the load on the skeletal system.

Pain Management and Modalities

Sports physiotherapists in Edmonton employ various therapeutic modalities to manage discomfort and accelerate the healing process of stress fractures. These include:

Ultrasound Therapy: This is performed by the use of high-frequency acoustic waves to stimulate the deep tissues within the injured area, promoting cellular repair and increasing blood flow.
Electrical Stimulation: Techniques like TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) are used to provide pain relief by prohibiting pain signals to the brain and by inducing the production of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers.
Ice Therapy: Applying ice to the injured area helps reduce swelling and numb pain, making it a simple yet effective tool during the initial stages of injury.
Shockwave Therapy: Shockwave therapy, utilized for its deep tissue penetration, enhances blood circulation and accelerates tissue repair by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. It has proven effective in treating chronic conditions and areas of persistent discomfort.
Dry Needling: This technique involves inserting fine needles into specific myofascial trigger points to release muscle tension and pain. Dry needling is particularly beneficial for addressing tightness in muscles that may contribute to biomechanical imbalances leading to stress fractures.

Biomechanical Analysis

Sports physiotherapists perform detailed biomechanical assessments to identify any underlying issues in a runner’s gait that may contribute to stress fractures. This analysis includes examining foot strike patterns, hip alignment, and overall body mechanics during motion. Key issues often identified include:

Overpronation: This occurs when the foot excessively rolls inward upon landing, leading to uneven distribution of impact forces and increased stress on specific bones.
Insufficient Hip Control: Weakness in the hip muscles can lead to poor alignment and increased load on the lower limbs.

Strengthening and conditioning play a pivotal role in managing stress fractures as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program, especially in distance runners. In Edmonton, sports physiotherapists focus on developing customized exercise regimens that enhance the strength and flexibility of muscles surrounding the fracture site. This approach is designed to provide better muscular support and reduce the load on the bone during physical activities, which is crucial for both recovery and prevention of future injuries.

Targeted Exercise Programs

The exercises selected by sports physiotherapists typically include resistance training and flexibility exercises. Resistance training includes using body weight, resistance bands, or light weights, focusing on slow, controlled movements to build strength without overloading the healing bone.

Flexibility exercises, such as stretching and specific yoga poses, are integrated to improve the range of motion and minimize stiffness in the affected area. These exercises are carefully monitored to ensure they do not exacerbate the injury, with adjustments made based on the patient’s pain feedback and healing progress.

Gradual Return to Running

A meticulous and phased approach to resuming running is crucial for ensuring complete healing of the stress fracture and preventing its recurrence. Sports physiotherapists in Edmonton employ a structured return-to-running program tailored to each athlete’s individual needs.

Phases of the Return-to-Running Program

Walking: The program typically begins with walking, allowing the athlete to apply a gentle load to the healing bone. The duration and intensity of walking gradually increase based on tolerance and absence of pain.
Jogging: Once walking is managed without discomfort, the athlete may progress to light jogging. This stage tests the bone’s response to slightly higher impacts. The sports physiotherapist closely monitors the transition to ensure there are no signs of recurring pain.
Running: The final phase involves transitioning from jogging to running at the athlete’s normal pace. This stage is only introduced once the sports physiotherapist confirms that the athlete can jog pain-free over several sessions.

Throughout each phase, the sports physiotherapist continually assesses the athlete for any signs of pain or discomfort that might indicate inadequate healing. The pace of progression through each stage depends entirely on the individual’s response to increased activity levels.

Achieving Optimal Recovery from Stress Fractures

At Momentum Physiotherapy, our approach to sports physiotherapy in Edmonton is explicitly tailored for athletes, including distance runners prone to stress fractures. Our expertise in sports injury physiotherapy focuses on recovery, strengthening, and prevention to ensure athletes can return to running with confidence and improved resilience.

It involves a comprehensive plan that enhances bone density, corrects running techniques, and optimizes overall physical conditioning to prevent future injuries. For runners experiencing stress fractures or those looking to prevent them, engaging with a specialized sports injury physiotherapy program at Momentum Physiotherapy is a crucial step. Contact us today, and let us help you overcome the challenges of stress fractures.

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