Stress Fractures

A stress fracture is a small crack in one of your bones. It’s a type of bone fracture (the medical term for broken bones).

Stress fractures are exactly what their name sounds like — fractures that happen when something puts too much stress on your bone. Healthcare providers sometimes call stress fractures overuse injuries because repetitively using the same part of your body usually causes them. You might also see stress fractures called hairline fractures, a name that refers to the hairline crack that forms in your bone.

Any repetitive motion or activity that puts pressure on your bones can cause a stress fracture — playing a sport or doing physical work are common causes. Visit a healthcare provider if you feel pain, swelling or tenderness on or near a bone (especially during or after physical activity).

Types of stress fractures

Stress fractures usually affect weight-bearing bones in your lower body. These are the bones that support the weight of your body when you’re standing or moving. You’re most likely to experience a stress fracture in your:

• Lower leg (your tibia and fibula).
• Foot (especially your metatarsals that connect your ankle and heel to your toes).
• Heel (calcaneus).

They’re less common, but stress fractures can also affect bones in your:

• Lower back (lumbar spine).
• Hips.
• Hands and wrists.

How common are stress fractures?

Stress fractures are common injuries for athletes and people who do physical work. Experts estimate that stress fractures make up around 20% of all sports injuries.