Stress Reaction and Fractures

Overview

4.9 out of 5 (22 Reviews)

Credits

1.00

Post-Assessment Questions

8

Start Date

1 Oct 2025

Last Review Date

1 Oct 2025

Expiration Date

30 Sep 2028

Estimated Time To Finish

60 Minutes


Unlimited CME

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Activity Description

Stress reactions and fractures represent a continuum of bone injury resulting from repetitive mechanical loading that exceeds the bone's capacity for repair. Pathophysiologically, excessive cyclic loading induces microdamage to the bone matrix, initiating an imbalance between osteoclastic resorption and osteoblastic remodeling. This leads to localized bone weakening, progressing from a stress reaction—characterized by bone marrow edema—to a complete cortical fracture if the mechanical insult persists.

Risk factors for stress injuries include intrinsic and extrinsic variables. Intrinsic factors encompass biomechanical abnormalities, inadequate bone mineral density, and hormonal imbalances, whereas extrinsic factors involve abrupt increases in activity level, improper footwear, and training surface modifications. Athletes and military personnel are at heightened risk due to repetitive high-impact loading.

This course explores stress reactions and fractures, including evaluation, identification of injury types, preventative measures, and management strategies dictated by injury severity and patient activity level. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance the learner's competence in identifying stress reactions and fractures, performing the recommended evaluation, mitigating recurrence risk, and implementing an appropriate interprofessional approach when managing this condition. 


Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of podiatrists, podiatry residents, and other medical professionals treating conditions. 

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the learner will be better able to:

  • Identify the pathophysiology of stress reactions and fractures.

  • Differentiate the clinical features of stress reaction injury and fractures.

  • Implement evidence-based treatment strategies for stress reaction injuries and fractures.

  • Apply interprofessional team strategies to improve care coordination and outcomes in patients affected by stress reaction injuries and fractures.

Disclosures

StatPearls, LLC requires everyone who influences the content of an educational activity to disclose relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies that have occurred within the past 24 months. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated. Hover over contributor names for financial disclosures. Others involved in planning this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial Support: This activity has received NO commercial support.

Continuing Education Accreditation Information

StatPearls is approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education as a provider of continuing education in podiatric medicine. StatPearls has approved this activity for a maximum of 1.00 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit hours. Physicians  should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please consult your professional licensing board for information on the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity.

Method of Participation and Credit

  1. Register for the activity.    
  2. Review the target audience, learning objectives, and disclosure information.
  3. Study the educational content of the enduring material.
  4. Choose the best answer to each activity test question. To receive credit and a certificate, you must pass the test questions with a minimum score of 100%.
  5. Complete the post-activity assessment survey.

If you have concerns regarding the CE/CME system, please contact support@statpearls.com.

Disclaimer

This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the Council on Podiatric Medical Education's Standards and Requirements for Approval of Providers of Continuing Education in Podiatric Medicine. Faculty may discuss investigational products or off-label uses of products regulated by the FDA. Readers should verify all information before employing any therapies described in this educational activity.

The information provided for this activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a healthcare provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. The information presented does not necessarily reflect the views of StatPearls or any commercial supporters of educational activities on statpearls.com. StatPearls expressly disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through a participant's misunderstanding of the content.

Unapproved Uses of Drugs/Devices: In accordance with FDA requirements, the audience is advised that information presented in this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please refer to the FDA-approved package insert for each drug/device for full prescribing/utilization information.

Cancellation Policy: Please see the cancellation policy. StatPearls, LLC reserves the right to cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances.


 

 

 
 

Reviews

Don I. on 5/6/2021

Bhupendra G. on 3/24/2022

Peter M. on 12/14/2022

Trang N. on 5/9/2023

edwin g. on 5/25/2023

Sarah S. on 7/31/2023

Randall S. on 8/18/2023

Keaton A. on 9/14/2023

Danial K. on 10/27/2023

Denise W. on 10/28/2023

good vignets

DANIEL F. on 1/1/2024

Chelsea V. on 2/11/2024

Helean Z. on 3/10/2024

I thought this was a great summary but spondylolysis should have been covered to be complete

Erich W. on 6/10/2024

Stephanie K. on 9/6/2024

Dr S. on 3/3/2025

James P. on 5/12/2025

Linda G. on 8/20/2025

Breanna E. on 1/12/2026

Kaela H. on 1/19/2026

Julie B. on 3/5/2026

David G. on 2/17/2026