Are you an athlete or a person who practices sports? Do you experience recurrent pain in your joints or muscles with no clear explanation? You might be suffering from a stress fracture, one of the most common sports injuries. Our chiropractors at Sorell-Iversen Chiropractic Clinic in Manhattan, KS, are here to help.

What Is a Stress Fracture?

Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone that are caused by repetitive impact or overuse. The most common type of stress fracture occurs in the foot, specifically in the metatarsals (the bones in the middle of the foot). However, they can also occur in other bones, such as the shin, ribs, or upper arm. They can get worse if left untreated.

Symptoms of a Stress Fracture

The most common symptom of a stress fracture is pain that gradually develops over time. The pain is may be described as a dull knee pain, muscle pain and shoulder pain that gets worse with activity and improves with rest. Other symptoms can include:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tenderness to touch
• Difficulty putting weight on the affected limb

What Causes Stress Fractures?

The most common cause of stress fractures is overuse, such as from playing a lot of sports or running long distances. Other risk factors include:

• Osteoporosis (a condition that weakens bones)
• Dietary problems that lead to low bone density (such as anorexia nervosa)
• Poorly fitting shoes
• Abnormal biomechanics (the way your body moves when you walk or run)

How Are Stress Fractures Diagnosed?

Despite being common injuries, stress fractures can be difficult to diagnose because they usually don't show up on X-rays right away. A member of our team can help diagnose your injury by conducting various tests over long term, consistent care.

How Are Stress Fractures Treated?

One way to treat a stress fracture is through specialized chiropractic care techniques like chiropractic adjustments and extremity adjustments. These treatments can help to realign the bones and reduce the pressure on the affected area. The goal is a reduction in your knee pain, shoulder pain, muscle pain, and recovery from your injuries.

Why Chiropractic Adjustments?

It is a drug-free and surgery-free treatment option that can help you get back to your active lifestyle as quickly as possible.

What Are Other Common Sports Injuries that Are Hard to Detect?

It is possible to have pain an injury in the shoulder from improper lifting techniques. Sometimes, this injury can go undetected for a while. Similar injuries due to lack of a warmup, poor posture, or overexertion can happen but the effects of the injury, an example being whiplash, may not show up until sometime late.

Visit Us for Extremity Adjustments from a Chiropractor on Our Team

If you think you might have a stress fracture or if you are experiencing any other type of pain, our team at Sorell-Iversen Chiropractic Clinic can help. We have a wealth of experience in treating patients, and we will work with you to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. We serve patients in Manhattan, KS, and the surrounding communities. Call us at (785) 776-7568 to schedule an appointment.