NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What is a common cause of a stress fracture?

1. Sudden increase in training intensity

2. Unusual or repetitive forces

3. Direct trauma to the bone

4. Lack of proper footwear

The correct answer is: Unusual or repetitive forces

A stress fracture is most commonly caused by unusual or repetitive forces that are greater than the bone's ability to adapt. The nature of stress fractures involves chronic overuse, which occurs when the cumulative effect of repeated stress exceeds the bone’s capacity to heal. This often happens in athletes or individuals who engage in repetitive high-impact activities without adequate recovery time, leading to micro-damage of the bone before it has the chance to repair itself. While a sudden increase in training intensity can contribute to stress fractures, it is the repetitive nature of the forces applied to the bone that plays a central role in the development of a stress fracture. Direct trauma can also cause fractures, but this is typically associated with acute fractures rather than stress fractures that develop over time. Lack of proper footwear may contribute to discomfort or result in improper biomechanics, but it is the repetitive strain that fundamentally leads to stress fractures.