Stress Injuries In Young Adolescents
Early recognition and appropriate management usually lead to excellent outcomes.
By Eike Prehn
27/03/2026
Stress injuries are becoming increasingly common in active children and adolescents, particularly those involved in running, jumping or high-training sports. While they can sound scary, early recognition and appropriate management usually lead to excellent outcomes.
What is a stress injury?
A stress injury is an overuse injury to bone caused by repetitive loading over time. Bone is constantly adapting, breaking down slightly with activity and rebuilding stronger during rest. Problems arise when load exceeds the bone’s ability to recover.
Stress injuries exist on a continuum:
- Bone stress reaction (early overload with micro-damage)
- Stress fracture (progression where a small fracture develops in the bone)
Common sites:
- Navicular
- Tibia
- Metatarsal or carpal bones of the foot
- Calcaneus
- Femur
- Medial malleolus of ankle
When to seek help?
Seek professional assessment if pain:
- Persists longer than 7-10 days
- Is localised to one specific spot and tender when pressing on the bone
- Worsens with activity and improves only with rest
- Causes limping or altered walking
- Returns immediately when sport resumes
What to do in the meantime:
- Modify load as much as needed so there’s no more pain
- Relative rest, not complete rest
- Maintain fitness levels with pain-free options
If you have a niggly injury that you can't shake, book an appointment today with Eike today. Call (02) 4268 4884, or click below to book online.
