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...

More From The Big Hurt