Runningmate PT and Performance Coaching

All BSIs are the same 🤥

The first of our 5 lies is the idea that bone stress injuries are the same.

Each BSI is unique in both the injury specifics and the individual athlete.

We start with specific terminology.

Often, the terms stress reaction and stress fracture are used interchangeably when they are really different injuries.

🌊Stress reactions are swelling on imaging.
⛓️‍💥Stress fractures are when a fracture line is present.

The timelines for reactions versus fractures differ, so understanding the specific injury is crucial.

Imaging also helps us determine if a BSI is low or high-risk.

Common low-risk injuries in runners are the medial tibia, most metatarsals, the fibula, the sacrum/pelvis, and the calcaneus.

With high-risk locations affecting the femoral neck, the navicular, proximal 5th metatarsal, and anterior tibial cortex.

The advice and management strategies you give your patients can vary greatly.

So you must first understand the specifics of an athlete’s injury.

Tomorrow, we are going to break down why rest isn’t always best. 🛌

When MRIs aren’t helpful 😭

MRIs are an important tool when dealing with uncertainty.

On rare occasions, they can offer more uncertainty than clarity.

Clinicians need to trust their exam skills and clinical instinct when imaging findings don’t match someone’s clinical presentation.