The fibula is one of two lower leg bones located adjacent to the tibia. Although nonweightbearing, it serves to stabilize and support ankle and knee joints.
Injury can result from repetitive stress or overuse from running, cycling and other activities like basketball or dancing.
Symptoms
The fibula connects with the lateral condyle of the tibia in a joint known as the tibiofibular joint, which features cartilage for protection, but may become irritated due to excessive load or high impact activity like running. Running can overload this joint as it puts unnecessary pressure on both parts of it – creating stress fractures near its head as well as trapping the common peroneal nerve running lateral to it.
The fibula, as the smaller of two leg bones, plays an essential role in ankle and lower leg function. Attaching to both ankle bones (tibia) and supporting lower leg muscles that move the foot, this bone attaches directly to tibia for support and can become injured due to running, especially when there are biomechanical problems or tight calf muscles; running can aggravate it further and result in stress reactions or stress fractures that should be addressed through rest or other exercises.
Diagnosis
The fibula is one of two lower leg bones that run alongside your tibia (shin bone), serving to support and stabilize your ankle in particular, while providing an attachment platform for important tendons and ligaments. Fibula pain when running is most often due to friction caused by IT band rubbing against small protuberance on tibia that forms knee joint; this condition is referred to as shin splints.
Diagnostic of a stress fracture of the fibula relies on history, physical exam and x-rays. If advanced imaging isn’t clear from these sources, an MRI or CT scan may be recommended if necessary. Fibula fractures don’t tend to be as painful than fractures of weight-bearing bones like the tibia; therefore patients are encouraged to use crutches until their injuries heal fully.
Treatment
If the pain is localized around your ankle, it could be either stress reaction or fracture. An upper half fibula fracture tends to heal on its own while fractures below your knee require surgical repair.
Stress reactions may develop into full fractures over time. A stress reaction typically manifests itself by gradual, increasing pain that worsens with activity; typically diagnosed by medical examination of leg and taking of X-rays to assess fracture.
Risk factors for stress fractures of the fibula include excessive training, poor footwear and unequal leg length. They most frequently affect runners, basketball and soccer players as well as military recruits; hormone changes during puberty or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome could also play a part. Treatment includes rest, elevation and physical therapy – while ice can help to relieve discomfort by constricting blood vessels and reducing swelling.
Prevention
The fibula is one of two leg bones and runs along the outside of your lower leg parallel to your tibia (shin bone). It acts to stabilize ankle movement and support lower leg muscles. Stress fractures of the fibula are relatively common among runners and can result in pain at the outside of your knee due to overuse.
Symptoms include tenderness in the area of the fibula head. This rounded end lies near your knee joint and wraps around the peroneal nerve that runs down either side of it, providing access to peroneal nerve. Due to higher traction and twisting forces than those found on tibia bones, fibulae are more vulnerable to stress injuries than their counterparts.
Preventing running injuries through gradual mileage increase and proper technique while avoiding downhill/hill running is the ideal approach, while other preventative measures could include addressing biomechanical factors like weak calf muscles, unequal leg-length or flat feet as part of a comprehensive treatment program.
