The tibia (shin bone) is the larger, and major weight bearing bone, of the two lower leg bones. A tibial stress fracture is a complete or incomplete break that develops over time, usually as a result of repeated activity. It can occur anywhere within the tibia, but it is most common in the middle to lower one third of the bone. Signs and Symptoms
pain and tenderness in just one specific area of the leg worsening pain that develops over a period of weeks to months pain increases with impact activity (running or jumping)
Increased Risk
sudden increase in the length, intensity or frequency of physical activity extreme training with limited rest periods those who participate in high intensity training (military recruits, distance runners) previous stress fracture poor physical conditioning, including poor flexibility and weak calf muscles running on hard surfaces flat feet or high arches improper footwear or poor shock-absorbing capacity or worn-out equipment bone health issues or bony defects (including osteoporosis, tumors, cysts) metabolic disorders, hormone problems and nutritional disorders (anorexia, bulimia) loss or irregular menstrual periods in females
Treatment
Medicine
Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider. Other minor pain relivers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), may be used.
Use Cold
Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.
Orthopedic Aids
A boot, cast, brace or crutches may be used to protect the bones while healing.
Rehab
After a period of rest, rehab may be needed. This will help with flexibility and strength.
Surgery
Rarely, surgery may be needed for fractures at a high risk of not healing.
How to Prevent
Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Maintain suitable conditioning, leg and ankle flexibility, strength and endurance, and cardiovascular fitness. Use proper technique with training and activity. Gradually increase amount and intensity of training and activity. Modify activity level to ensure proper rest. Wear proper footwear (for example, change shoes after 300 to 500 miles of running). Correct hormonal, metabolic and nutrition disorders.
When to Call the Health Care Provider Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at 614-355-6000 if:
symptoms get worse or do not improve in 2 weeks despite treatment new, unexplained symptoms develop, or there are side effects with drugs in treatment
Sports Medicine: Tibial Stress Fracture (PDF) HH-I-499 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Instant Online Sports Medicine Scheduling
Schedule an Appointment Online Today
The tibia (shin bone) is the larger, and major weight bearing bone, of the two lower leg bones. A tibial stress fracture is a complete or incomplete break that develops over time, usually as a result of repeated activity. It can occur anywhere within the tibia, but it is most common in the middle to lower one third of the bone. Signs and Symptoms
pain and tenderness in just one specific area of the leg worsening pain that develops over a period of weeks to months pain increases with impact activity (running or jumping)
Increased Risk
sudden increase in the length, intensity or frequency of physical activity extreme training with limited rest periods those who participate in high intensity training (military recruits, distance runners) previous stress fracture poor physical conditioning, including poor flexibility and weak calf muscles running on hard surfaces flat feet or high arches improper footwear or poor shock-absorbing capacity or worn-out equipment bone health issues or bony defects (including osteoporosis, tumors, cysts) metabolic disorders, hormone problems and nutritional disorders (anorexia, bulimia) loss or irregular menstrual periods in females
Treatment
Medicine
Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider. Other minor pain relivers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), may be used.
Use Cold
Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.
Orthopedic Aids
A boot, cast, brace or crutches may be used to protect the bones while healing.
Rehab
After a period of rest, rehab may be needed. This will help with flexibility and strength.
Surgery
Rarely, surgery may be needed for fractures at a high risk of not healing.
How to Prevent
Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Maintain suitable conditioning, leg and ankle flexibility, strength and endurance, and cardiovascular fitness. Use proper technique with training and activity. Gradually increase amount and intensity of training and activity. Modify activity level to ensure proper rest. Wear proper footwear (for example, change shoes after 300 to 500 miles of running). Correct hormonal, metabolic and nutrition disorders.
When to Call the Health Care Provider Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at 614-355-6000 if:
symptoms get worse or do not improve in 2 weeks despite treatment new, unexplained symptoms develop, or there are side effects with drugs in treatment
Sports Medicine: Tibial Stress Fracture (PDF) HH-I-499 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Instant Online Sports Medicine Scheduling
Schedule an Appointment Online Today
The tibia (shin bone) is the larger, and major weight bearing bone, of the two lower leg bones. A tibial stress fracture is a complete or incomplete break that develops over time, usually as a result of repeated activity. It can occur anywhere within the tibia, but it is most common in the middle to lower one third of the bone. Signs and Symptoms
pain and tenderness in just one specific area of the leg worsening pain that develops over a period of weeks to months pain increases with impact activity (running or jumping)
Increased Risk
sudden increase in the length, intensity or frequency of physical activity extreme training with limited rest periods those who participate in high intensity training (military recruits, distance runners) previous stress fracture poor physical conditioning, including poor flexibility and weak calf muscles running on hard surfaces flat feet or high arches improper footwear or poor shock-absorbing capacity or worn-out equipment bone health issues or bony defects (including osteoporosis, tumors, cysts) metabolic disorders, hormone problems and nutritional disorders (anorexia, bulimia) loss or irregular menstrual periods in females
Treatment
Medicine
Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider. Other minor pain relivers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), may be used.
Use Cold
Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.
Orthopedic Aids
A boot, cast, brace or crutches may be used to protect the bones while healing.
Rehab
After a period of rest, rehab may be needed. This will help with flexibility and strength.
Surgery
Rarely, surgery may be needed for fractures at a high risk of not healing.
How to Prevent
Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition. Maintain suitable conditioning, leg and ankle flexibility, strength and endurance, and cardiovascular fitness. Use proper technique with training and activity. Gradually increase amount and intensity of training and activity. Modify activity level to ensure proper rest. Wear proper footwear (for example, change shoes after 300 to 500 miles of running). Correct hormonal, metabolic and nutrition disorders.
When to Call the Health Care Provider Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at 614-355-6000 if:
symptoms get worse or do not improve in 2 weeks despite treatment new, unexplained symptoms develop, or there are side effects with drugs in treatment
Sports Medicine: Tibial Stress Fracture (PDF) HH-I-499 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
The tibia (shin bone) is the larger, and major weight bearing bone, of the two lower leg bones. A tibial stress fracture is a complete or incomplete break that develops over time, usually as a result of repeated activity. It can occur anywhere within the tibia, but it is most common in the middle to lower one third of the bone.
Signs and Symptoms
- pain and tenderness in just one specific area of the leg
- worsening pain that develops over a period of weeks to months
- pain increases with impact activity (running or jumping)
Increased Risk
- sudden increase in the length, intensity or frequency of physical activity
- extreme training with limited rest periods
- those who participate in high intensity training (military recruits, distance runners)
- previous stress fracture
- poor physical conditioning, including poor flexibility and weak calf muscles
- running on hard surfaces
- flat feet or high arches
- improper footwear or poor shock-absorbing capacity or worn-out equipment
- bone health issues or bony defects (including osteoporosis, tumors, cysts)
- metabolic disorders, hormone problems and nutritional disorders (anorexia, bulimia)
- loss or irregular menstrual periods in females
Treatment
- Medicine
- Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider.
- Other minor pain relivers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), may be used.
- Use Cold
- Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.
- Orthopedic Aids
- A boot, cast, brace or crutches may be used to protect the bones while healing.
- Rehab
- After a period of rest, rehab may be needed. This will help with flexibility and strength.
- Surgery
- Rarely, surgery may be needed for fractures at a high risk of not healing.
How to Prevent
- Do correct warm-up and stretching before practice or competition.
- Maintain suitable conditioning, leg and ankle flexibility, strength and endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.
- Use proper technique with training and activity. Gradually increase amount and intensity of training and activity. Modify activity level to ensure proper rest.
- Wear proper footwear (for example, change shoes after 300 to 500 miles of running).
- Correct hormonal, metabolic and nutrition disorders.
When to Call the Health Care Provider
Call your health care provider or the Sports Medicine team at 614-355-6000 if:
Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®) may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider.
Other minor pain relivers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), may be used.
Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.
A boot, cast, brace or crutches may be used to protect the bones while healing.
After a period of rest, rehab may be needed. This will help with flexibility and strength.
Rarely, surgery may be needed for fractures at a high risk of not healing.
symptoms get worse or do not improve in 2 weeks despite treatment
new, unexplained symptoms develop, or there are side effects with drugs in treatment
Sports Medicine: Tibial Stress Fracture (PDF)
HH-I-499 ©2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Instant Online Sports Medicine Scheduling
Schedule an Appointment Online Today
Instant Online Sports Medicine Scheduling
Schedule an Appointment Online Today
