I have dealt with a stress fracture since last October. Took 12 weeks off, ran a mile, pain, stopped for another 6 months. Still have pain when I walk a lot or am on my feet all day at work. Tried several doctors and finally went to a chiro says he thinks it’s the muscles pulling on my bone causing the problem and suggested ART to help heal me. Is this just a crock of crap for solving my problem, or is this a legit possibility??? Anyone with experience???
I have dealt with a stress fracture since last October. Took 12 weeks off, ran a mile, pain, stopped for another 6 months. Still have pain when I walk a lot or am on my feet all day at work. Tried several doctors and finally went to a chiro says he thinks it’s the muscles pulling on my bone causing the problem and suggested ART to help heal me. Is this just a crock of crap for solving my problem, or is this a legit possibility??? Anyone with experience???
I have had a few stress fractures and somewhat often have pain. Some docs have suggested that where the fractures calcifies (sp?) that might in simple terms rub the muscles and tendons and cause a little inflammation.
Not sure ART would do anything for that. Did you have those pains prior to your fracture? Not sure how a stress fracture would suddenly cause tendons to pull on the bone. There is no physiological change with bone length and tendon placement due to a hairline crack in your bone. Think Chiro might be trying to sell you some ART sessions for no good reason.
Where are the stress fractures and how were they diagnosed?
Having all that rest and not having the bone heal to 100% sounds like someone may be missing something.
Well he said the stress fracture/reaction may have originated from the muscles getting too large or tense and pulling on the bone from work overload and causing it. The fracture was on my left tibia and was diagnosed with MRI as stress fracture or stress reaction.
Disclaimer: I am both an ART provider and a chiropractor.
I have commonly seen stress fractures as a result of over development of some of the calf muscles. Particularly Tibialis Anterior and Posterior, but not limited to just those two. Whatever you were doing could have easily caused hypertrophy or increased intramuscular adhesions within those muscles and they are causing chronic tension on the periosteum which is well-innervated and extremely painful when irritated.
I wrote a longer response but missed your comment about the MRI revealing it was in the Tibia. Knowing that information I’ll simply say barring any contraindications his suggestion is reasonable and you certainly should consider it.
My $.02
I have dealt with a stress fracture since last October. Took 12 weeks off, ran a mile, pain, stopped for another 6 months. Still have pain when I walk a lot or am on my feet all day at work. Tried several doctors and finally went to a chiro says he thinks it’s the muscles pulling on my bone causing the problem and suggested ART to help heal me. Is this just a crock of crap for solving my problem, or is this a legit possibility??? Anyone with experience???
I think this is legit. I had a stress reaction in my femur last September. I took the 6 weeks off and came back slowly. No problems until I pushed too hard biking/running. The symptoms came back in Feb/March. I backed off a little ( I didn’t stop running or biking…just reduced volume for 2 weeks). The symptoms went away and I began to build my base for the bike/run(~2 months of 40+miles running/8hrs+biking)Then after a HIM in August the same symptoms presented. I backed off and it went away. My PT thinks that my muscles/tendons are inflammed/stressed so its pulling on the bone where the stress reaction is. Its the way my body is telling me to back off. It always comes back after a couple of months of intense training. It seems the hard/hilly bike is what really triggers it.
I don’t practice ART but receive it. I doubt it will cure what ails you, but it never is the cure by itself anyway. It is a part of the healing process. What it can do is free up any scarring and adhesion in the muscles. That will allow you to more quickly get back to a normal range of motion and that is where you want to be.
My chiro always says you should know pretty quick if ART is going to help. Within 3 sessions there should be noticeable difference, which when coupled with the exercises the chiro should be giving you should get you on your way.
I find ART is like massage therapy on steroids.
Hey,
I posted the picture above as current concepts outline that the contractile part of the connective tissue can play a big part in MTSS and all associated injuries. Muscle hypertension/overdevelopment/inflammation not thought so important. If you look at the top picture 3 bands of connective tissue join to attach at the medial tibia. Fascial connections have contractile properties and can also go into a state of chronic tension, IMO having alot to do with having to absorb the impact but more so vibration associated with repetitive impact of running.
Traction here can start off a continuum of injury starting in tension–> periostitis–>stress fracture–>fracture etc.
If this is the proper diagnosis, then the trick is to:
- Rid the tension from the connective tissue at the medial tibia (ART, Graston, self massage, a very competent RMT etc)
- Work on running form to minimize impact as this may be the root cause and will prevent re-occurrence.
Hope that makes sense, again even a perfectly correct diagnosis of stress fracture 6 weeks of rest is normally prescribed and should heal 100%.
Just an internet diagnosis with no history or physical exam so take this FWIW.
Edit for treatment: Connective tissue chronic tension responds better to long, gentle release/TP/tension than most conventional methods mentioned above!
Do you have a history of stress fractures?
No, first time ever for me
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