Ep 378: Bone Stress Injuries: Causes, Symptoms & Early Warning Signs (Part 1)

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:6a57fa5e-c460-45da-be9f-861e67a1cd4e-2" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:6a57fa5e-c460-45da-be9f-861e67a1cd4e-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant"> In episode 378 of The Physical Performance Show, host Brad Beer is joined by Pogo physiotherapist Tim Studley for the first instalment of a three-part expert series exploring bone stress injuries. Drawing on decades of clinical experience and the latest research, Brad unpacks the mechanisms behind one of the most common and misunderstood injuries affecting endurance athletes.

This episode explains how bone stress injuries develop, why they occur, and why they're often missed until they become more serious. Brad and Tim discuss the relationship between training load, bone physiology, symptom progression, and risk factors, while providing practical insights for athletes, coaches, and clinicians seeking to identify problems before they become stress fractures.

Show Sponsor: PILLAR Performance is leading a new frontier in sports nutrition through micronutrition innovation. Their new Collagen Repair formula, developed in collaboration with Gelita Laboratories, is designed to support tendon and ligament health while promoting collagen synthesis to help athletes stay healthy and perform at their best.

For 15% off your first order, visit pillarperformance.shop (or thefeed.com for North American listeners) and use the discount code PHYSICALPERFORMANCE (one word, capitals) at checkout.

In this episode, you'll hear Why bone stress injuries exist on a continuum—from healthy bone through stress reactions to true stress fractures The biology of bone remodelling: osteoclasts, osteoblasts, microcracks, and why recovery is essential Why running intensity has a far greater impact on bone stress injury risk than training volume alone How a 10% increase in running pace can dramatically reduce the bone's fatigue threshold Why many athletes mistakenly blame the "last run" rather than the workload accumulated four weeks earlier The importance of deload weeks and allowing the skeleton time to repair accumulated microdamage Understanding the Fredericson grading system and what distinguishes stress reactions from stress fractures Why shin splints (medial tibial str