Stress Fracture Treatment

Treatment includes:

Medications

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain, but controversy exists about their use for stress fractures. It is possible that NSAIDs adversely affect stress fracture healing.

Rest

Rest is the most important thing you can do for a stress fracture. This includes avoiding the activity that caused the fracture and any other activities that cause pain. Rest time required is at least 6-8 weeks.

Crutches or a Cane

You may need crutches or a walking cane to keep pressure off the leg.

Activity

Talk with your doctor about when you can restart activity and how to progress with the amount and type of activity.

A common progression:

• Begin with non-weight–bearing activities, such as swimming or bicycling.
• Next, you can do weight-bearing, non-impact exercise, such as a stair machine.
• Gradually, you will be able to add low-impact activity, starting with walking.
• Once you can do fast-paced walking with no pain, you can start higher impact activity, such as light jogging.
• This gradual progression continues until you have reached your pre-injury activity level. You can return to full activity once you do not feel tenderness of the bone.