Everyone knows that regular exercise is encouraged throughout your lifetime. Exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight and supports your overall well-being.

While exercise should always be a priority in your life, too much of a certain exercise or overuse of a particular part of your body can cause injury.

Stress fractures are a type of bone injury that requires rest in order to fully heal. If you are feeling pain during exercise, stop what you are doing and come see us at AFC Urgent Care Louisville! We explain what stress fractures are and why they happen below, so check it out.

Do Stress Fractures Hurt Right Away?

When you suffer a broken bone, it is usually pretty obvious that something is immediately wrong. The pain and maybe even visual deformity can have you coming to see us right away. For stress fractures, though, the injury tends to appear gradually over time.

Stress fractures are often linked to an overuse of the affected area. While our bones can withstand the common pressures and force of everyday life, certain activities like long-distance running, gymnastics and dance can put constant pressure on our legs and feet. In time, the bone can give way and little cracks can appear. The pain associated with the stress fracture may start off minimal but often worsens and can make exercise impossible.

Potential Signs of a Stress Fracture

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

What Is the Recovery Timeline for Stress Fractures?

Every injury and every person is different, so your recovery time will depend on how dedicated you are to your resting period. It is crucial that you avoid participating in the activity that caused the break in order to fully heal.

If you don’t, you could end up making your fracture even worse or causing the bone to completely break. Take this time to rest and be gentle on your body as you heal, and you can expect to feel better in a matter of weeks.

Common Exercises 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 Louisville.