DR HQ: Anatomy 101—Medical terminology

In this edition of Dr. HQ–Anatomy 101, we'll do a Q&A on some of the terms that are used in describing a medical condition or treatment.

Q: What is the difference between a stress reaction and a stress fracture?

A: Carl Pavano suffered a stress reaction in 2012 but it is a rare condition. A stress reaction is caused by repetitive movement that creates microscopic fractures, called pre-fracture, of the bone. Left untreated, those microscopic fractures can increase in size to the point that the athlete has a stress fracture. A stress fracture is an incomplete fracture of a bone. While stress reactions can occur in all bones, they typically occur in the lower extremities due to constant pounding. In the case of Pavano and some of the other...

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