A fracture is an injury that causes considerable trauma to your bone and soft tissues. It can cause significant pain, and often limits your physical function. Fractures occur when too much outside force is placed on the bone, causing it to break. There are many different types of fractures, including open fractures, closed fractures, and stress fractures.
The symptoms of a fracture can vary depending on the severity, location, and type of the fracture. Some common symptoms include:
- Sudden, intense pain
- Difficulty bearing weight
- Restricted movement
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Redness
- Obvious deformity
Fractures are common in areas like wrists, ankles, legs, and arms, and often occur during sports that require twisting, like soccer or basketball. Certain factors like overuse or having low bone density (osteoporosis) can increase your risk of a fracture.
