Prevention of bone stress fracture and MTSS

Bone Stress Injury Prevention

In collaboration with Nordic Tigon, I contributed to an educational session focused on the prevention and early recognition of bone stress injuries in endurance athletes. My part of the session covered the development of bone stress injuries and stress fractures, how to identify early red flags, and how athletes can reduce their risk through better load management and recovery.

Bone stress injuries occur when repetitive loading exceeds the bone’s ability to adapt and recover. Early warning signs can include localized bone pain during activity, tenderness when pressing on a specific area, pain that appears earlier during training, or discomfort that persists even at rest. Recognizing these signals early is key to preventing progression to a stress fracture.

We also discussed Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS), commonly known as shin splints. MTSS presents as diffuse pain along the inner border of the tibia, often occurring during or after running. Unlike stress fractures, the pain is usually spread over a larger area rather than a single focal point.

The aim of this session was to help beginners and athletes better understand their bodies, identify early warning signs, and adopt strategies that support long-term injury prevention and sustainable training.