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...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From The Big Hurt

A few new situations. With a lot of guys supposedly close to coming back,there's also a lot of wait and see.
Aug 30 2025 3:04am
A short slate with the latest update,but there's a couple of serious ones there.
Aug 25 2025 3:04am
What's next for Zack Wheeler? And as usual, a bunch of others.
Aug 18 2025 3:04am
Severino to miss time; what the heck is the SC joint? And, some clarity on Logan Henderson.
Aug 9 2025 3:03am
A busy start to August. Edman, Halvorsen, and Robert Suarez lead the way.
Aug 4 2025 3:04am

Tools