FRACTURED BONES, BONE CRACKS: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT, PREVENTION
Fractures are a common condition, common among long-distance runners. The main cause comes from repetitive trauma during movement. Effective treatment usually includes rest, medication, and adjustments to diet, activity, and exercise. However, in some cases, a cast is needed to speed up the recovery time.
What is a bone fracture? A fracture or fracture is a microscopic fracture deep within the bone, caused by trauma or overuse. If the patient is not treated in time, there is a high risk of progression to fractures, arthritis, even surgical intervention.
Causes of fractures Here are some of the main causes of fractures:
Practicing sports with wrong posture, wrong technique. Exercising too much, exercising continuously makes the body do not have time to rest. Sudden surface changes, such as going from running on a soft surface to a hard surface. Run on a track or road with a steep surface. Using footwear that doesn’t fit, is too worn, too thin, or too stiff. Performing repetitive activity in certain sports, such as: long-distance running, tennis, basketball, gymnastics, dance The diet does not provide enough calories for regular physical activity and sports. The body lacks Vitamin D. Risk factor Age: Older people often experience problems related to low bone density, typically osteoporosis. Weak bones are more likely to crack, crack, or even break. Weight: People with a low BMI or underweight people may have weak bones, whereas an overweight body with a high BMI will increase pressure on the bones, easily leading to fractures and cracks. Anatomical problems: Tendonitis, arches that are too high (concave feet) or too low (flat feet), muscle weakness, imbalance and mobility. Gender: Women who do not menstruate or have irregular periods have a higher risk of fractures than the rest of the population. Medical conditions: Osteoporosis, or diseases that cause weakness or softening of bones that make them unable to withstand daily activities.
Symptoms of a fractured bone Common symptoms of stress fractures can include:
Pain, swelling, or soreness at the site of the fracture. Pain when touching the affected area. The pain occurs with movement and disappears with rest. The pain occurs even during exercise, rest, daily activities, and walking. If left untreated, early-stage fractures can cause severe pain. From there, the risk of displacement fracture is higher (fractured bone moves out of normal position). Some cases require surgical intervention to treat these lesions.
Methods to diagnose fractures For fractures, fractures, the doctor may order the following tests to make an accurate diagnosis:
1. Visit with a doctor Initially, the doctor will do a physical examination of the symptoms and discuss the risk factors and causes leading to fractures. The person may need to answer a number of questions related to:
Medical history, previous trauma. Exercise habits, daily work. Specific symptoms encountered. Medications in use. 2. X-rays Your doctor may order an X-ray to look for symptoms of a fracture. However, this method is often difficult to detect lesions due to the small crack size. In fact, X-ray results miss up to a quarter of fractured bones. However, as the broken bone begins to heal, an X-ray may show the humerus around the fracture.
3. Bone scintigraphy If an X-ray does not give the desired results, your doctor may recommend this method. During a bone scan, radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream, builds up in the bone, and is deposited at sites that are being repaired. At this time, the location of the fractured bone that will appear on the computer will have a darker color.
4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) If the doctor needs a more detailed picture of the lesion, the patient may be ordered to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. This method has many advantages as follows:
Limit the harmful effects of radiation. It doesn’t take long to do. Helps in the simultaneous diagnosis of other bone and soft tissue problems.
Are fractures dangerous? Fractures, if not treated in time, will become more serious. Broken bones that are not properly treated can lead to arthritis, even requiring surgical intervention. Therefore, as soon as you notice unusual signs of pain, you should immediately contact your doctor for an early examination and effective treatment. In addition, the patient should temporarily stop exercising and sports activities that are prone to injury to avoid aggravating the condition.
For people with an underlying medical condition such as diabetes or peripheral neuropathy, it’s important to see a doctor when you feel pain in your legs, ankles, or feet. The doctor will prescribe a reasonable treatment regimen to prevent dangerous complications.
Does a fracture need a cast? In some cases, the doctor will prescribe a cast to fix the bone in the right position. This method will help prevent pressure on the injured area and promote faster bone healing.
How to treat fractures? Fractures and fractures are treated in a variety of ways. The doctor will discuss with the patient about the location and severity of the injury to choose the right regimen. Some commonly specified methods include:
Stop activities that cause pain: Repetitive movements in sports training, overexertion, vigorous activity (carrying, carrying)… Apply cold to the injured area for about 10 minutes or massage with ice for 3-5 minutes. Rest for 2-8 weeks. Gentle exercise with low-impact sports, such as swimming, cycling, etc. Perform physical therapy as prescribed by your doctor to speed up the healing time and avoid re-injury. Elevate the injured area when lying on your back, especially for leg, ankle, and foot injuries. Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce swelling and pain. Use protective shoes to reduce pressure on the feet or legs when fractured, can be hard-soled shoes, wooden sandals, etc. Using crutches reduces weight bearing on the foot or lower leg in the event a fracture occurs in this area. Surgery in case of serious injury, specifically using needles, screws, etc. to fix the cracks. Methods to prevent bone fractures Here are some effective methods to prevent fractures and fractures, which should be consulted to avoid unwanted injuries:
Should increase the intensity of sports exercise gradually weekly, should not be overworked. Alternate between different activities to prevent fractures, such as jogging on even days and cycling on odd days. Maintain a healthy diet, with special emphasis on adding foods rich in Calcium and Vitamin D. Use built-in sports equipment, do not wear old or worn shoes. Stop exercising and rest for a few days when you notice swelling, pain occurs, if the pain continues, contact your doctor immediately.
