Orthopedics-Online

Fatigue fracture of the heel

definition

A Fatigue fracture generally means one Broken bone (a fracture) that is not due to unnatural stress on the bone, but rather due to prolonged overload. Normally, movements against the actual direction of force of the bone lead to fractures, for example when the bones of the lower leg deviate significantly to the left or right from the actual body axis. In the case of a fatigue fracture, the cause lies in supposedly "normal" movements that are performed too often without sufficient regeneration. The heel is particularly often affected by this type of injury.

Read more about the topic here: Fatigue fracture - you need to know that!

causes

As already mentioned, the Cause of a fatigue fracture the heel, as with other overload fractures, in one excessive stress on the bone. But that alone is of course by far not the only influencing factorthat contributes to the creation. Not every heavy load results in a fatigue fracture. Almost all patients with a fatigue fracture of the heel have in common that they are high loads expose and at it only a few, very short breaks insert. Without sufficiently long breaks, the body can follow itself and its bones strenuous exercise not regenerate sufficiently and becomes more prone to injuries of all kinds.

In addition, there may be a form of nutrition that does not do justice to the type of load and training. Often there is one Vitamin deficiency or Mineral deficiency, or it will be in principle too few calories recorded.

Particularly at risk from this form of malnutrition are those who want to lose a lot of weight in a relatively short time and because of it exercise a lot and eat very little. In the long run, the body's own regeneration mechanisms can no longer keep pace and the smallest injuries, which are normal and negligible during regular exercise, add up. A fatigue fracture occurs. In addition to the metatarsal bones, the heel is also often affected, since walking and running - and thus the stress on the foot - play an important role in many sports.

Read more about the topic here: Diet and exercise

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Symptoms

Like almost all sports injuries, the fatigue fracture can show up in many different ways. The decisive factor for the attending physician is Overview of all symptoms of the patient as well as the course of the injury, which occurred in the context of the so-called anamnese will be charged.

Often the first sign is a rather unspecific, uncomfortable feeling in the heel areathat occurs with long-term and / or heavy loads and disappears again at rest. In the further course, this unpleasant feeling quickly turns into pain, unless the patient adjusts his training schedule. First comes the Pain only under exertion and at first completely improves in peace. If the pain also occurs at rest, the fatigue break has usually already occurred at this stage. If the person concerned continues to train (mostly in pain) or even deliberately numbs their pain, the last step to permanent pain is only small. The heel is still in all phases only rarely reddened or overheated, but often very pressure painful.

In individual cases, however, completely different symptoms or a different course of the disease can occur. In any case, it is advisable for a large amount of training and exercise-dependent pain quickly one To see a doctorto prevent any further worsening of the symptoms in good time.

diagnosis

Compared to the relatively clear diagnosis of a "normal" bone fracture, that is Diagnosing a fatigue fracture the heel rather complicated. The diagnosis of the usual bone fracture can easily be confirmed by classic symptoms such as extreme pain, visible misalignments, a major accident shortly before and, in addition, a simple X-ray. If there is a fatigue fracture, however, the difficulties often begin before the first contact with a doctor. Initial mild pain does not limit the patient immediately, so that it often takes a long time before he even consults a doctor.

In the case of a fatigue fracture, it is initially not clear whether the symptoms can also be a direct result of training or possibly also muscular or ligamentous injuries. A X-ray image of the foot may show a fatigue fracture in the heel area. Often, however, even an experienced radiologist does not see anything abnormal at first. Same goes for Computed tomography recordings. A large number of fatigue fractures will take a long time and several visits to the doctor to resolve Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosed.

therapy

After the difficult diagnosis has been made, adequate treatment of a fatigue fracture of the heel follows. This consists primarily in absolute protection and discharge. A long period of time without exercise is just as important and necessary as sufficient rest periods in everyday life. At no time should you run excessively long or too much, as the smallest bone injuries that have led to the fatigue fracture require rest and time. This can be a real challenge, especially for ambitious athletes. Nevertheless, one should follow this advice in order to be able to be active again painlessly in the future. If you can't or don't want to do without exercise, you should gentle sports change without putting direct strain on the heel. Here, for example swim or Aqua aerobics on. In addition, the patient should learn to listen to their body. Pain is always a signal that the performance limit of your own body has been reached and a break is necessary.

The treatment can be supported by the dosed use of painkillers. For example, "classics" such as Ibuprofen or ASS on. Of course, this should not be a permanent solution, but only reduce the suffering in the first phase. On the other hand, it is absolutely irresponsible to take painkillers, but to forego the training break. Serious health problems can result!

Periodically one should doctor assess the healing progress. After a certain amount of time, he or she can give the “green light” again to start training and work with the patient realistic training plan work out for re-entry. If a patient who has now healed begins too ambitiously and ambitiously again after a long break, there is another risk of a fatigue fracture or another overload-related sports injury.

Duration

A fatigue fracture of the heel is one extremely protracted injury - and even in a double sense:

On the one hand, it usually takes a long time to "work out" a fatigue break. The body and especially the skeleton are resilient and loads as well as shorter overloads are tolerated in most cases. Even if the individual sensitivity and susceptibility to injuryt Of course, what is crucial here is that no one has suffered an immediate fatigue fracture of the heel after just one unusual exercise. Before this happens, the overloads must have occurred constantly over a very long period and without regeneration phases.

The healing of a fatigue fracture of the heel is also extremely time-consuming and often very difficult, especially for the affected patients. The healing process requires a great deal of discipline and even more patience. Even under consequent relief can Weeks to Months pass until one can speak of a final healing. Even after that, sufferers have to continue to be patient and start very slowly. However, "ignoring" the fatigue fracture of the heel, that is, dragging it off and simply continuing to train, is not an alternative: In these cases, the fatigue fracture or its chronic remains in combination with the accompanying pain often remain a lifelong companion.

More fatigue fractures

Of course, the fatigue break of the verses is not the only injury that can result from excessive use of the bones. You will find further types of fatigue fracture below.