Stress Fracture Treatment and Vitamin D
Stress fractures are known for causing tiny cracks in a bone and pain to the affected area. This type of injury is often sustained through repetitive movements or overuse common in sports like long-distance running. Many individuals and athletes that run long distances or those that engage in activities that 
involve a lot of jumping can be prone to developing stress fractures. Also, those with osteoarthritis often developed stress fractures due to their weakened bones.
Stress fractures frequently occur in the weight-bearing bones of the lower leg and foot. This type of pain tends to worsen over time and could potentially cause swelling to the affected body part.
Stress fractures are a common sports injury, and treating stress fractures typically involves a simple treatment plan of resting the area. Additionally, there is new information that has been found to reduce a person’s risk of developing stress fractures.
Latest Research on Stress Fracture Treatment Identifies Vitamin D as Key
An article published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in August 2015 looked at serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and stress fractures in military personnel. Dr. Dyda Dao and a team of researchers began this study by searching multiple databases and doing a meta-analysis on nine studies looking at lower extremity stress fractures and Vitamin D levels. They found that military people that sustained stress fractures had a lower Vitamin D level than the military personnel with normal level of Vitamin D.
The authors concluded that normalizing Vitamin D levels could potentially lead to a lower rate of sustaining a stress fracture. With this information, researchers have theorized that military training can be correlated with athletes who are starting rigorous training. So, if athletes are conditioning their bodies prior to intense competition, they can reduce their chances of sustaining a stress fracture, by increasing their levels of Vitamin D.
This information can be very helpful and influential for athletes training for intense competition or races. Vitamin D is a simple nutrient to absorb as it is found in foods like dairy products and fish. And don’t forget that 80 to 90 percent of Vitamin D is obtained through exposure to sunlight and has been added to most medicines and supplements.
A simple addition to your daily life or meals could greatly improve your performance on the fields or track. With stress fractures, always remember that stretching and warming up for activity is vital to reducing your risk for this type of injury. For more information about stress fractures, here are 10 facts about stress fractures.
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