How_RRQ Do_VD0 Stress_NN1 Fractures_NN2 Develop_VV0 ?_? 
Considering_CS the_AT forces_NN2 involved_JJ in_II many_DA2 sports_NN2 ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ no_AT surprise_NN1 that_CST professional_JJ athletes_NN2 sustain_VV0 serious_JJ injuries_NN2 to_II their_APPGE muscles_NN2 ,_, ligaments_NN2 ,_, tendons_NN2 and_CC bones_NN2 ._. 
A_AT1 spate_NN1 of_IO bone_NN1 fracture-related_NN1 injuries_NN2 seems_VVZ to_TO be_VBI dogging_VVG professional_JJ teams_NN2 this_DD1 year_NNT1 ._. 
The_AT Houston_NP1 Rockets_NN2 of_IO the_AT National_JJ Basketball_NN1 Association_NN1 lost_VVD seven-time_JJ all-star_JJ Tracy_NP1 McGrady_NP1 to_II season-ending_JJ microfracture_NN1 surgery_NN1 in_II February_NPM1 ._. 
And_CC on_II Monday_NPD1 ,_, Rocket_NN1 's_GE team_NN1 physician_NN1 Tom_NP1 Clanton_NP1 announced_VVD in_II the_AT Houston_NP1 Chronicle_NN1 that_CST all-star_JJ center_NN1 Yao_NP1 Ming_NP1 's_GE fractured_JJ foot_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ he_PPHS1 sustained_VVD in_II a_AT1 play-off_NN1 game_NN1 against_II the_AT Los_NP1 Angeles_NP1 Lakers_NP2 in_II May_NPM1 ,_, has_VHZ worsened_VVN over_II time_NNT1 and_CC may_VM end_VVI his_APPGE career_NN1 ._. 
The_AT possibility_NN1 that_CST New_NP1 York_NP1 Mets_NN2 centerfielder_VV0 Carlos_NP1 Beltran_NP1 might_VM have_VHI a_AT1 microfractured_JJ knee_NN1 turned_VVD fans_NN2 and_CC fantasy_NN1 baseball_NN1 owners_NN2 into_II nervous_JJ wrecks_NN2 ._. 
Such_DA an_AT1 injury_NN1 ended_VVD the_AT career_NN1 of_IO NBA_NP1 star_NN1 Jamal_NP1 Mashburn_NP1 ._. 
So_RR how_RRQ do_VD0 these_DD2 fractures_NN2 develop_VVI ?_? 
And_CC why_RRQ can_VM they_PPHS2 have_VHI such_DA impact_NN1 on_II athletes_NN2 '_GE careers_NN2 ,_, in_II some_DD cases_NN2 forcing_VVG players_NN2 into_II early_JJ retirement_NN1 ?_? 
To_TO find_VVI out_RP ,_, we_PPIS2 turned_VVD to_II Howard_NP1 Palamarchuk_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 former_DA Olympic-class_JJ race_NN1 walker_NN1 who_PNQS is_VBZ the_AT director_NN1 of_IO sports_NN2 medicine_NN1 at_II Temple_NP1 University_NN1 School_NN1 of_IO Podiatric_JJ Medicine_NN1 ._. 
&lsqb;_( An_AT1 edited_JJ transcript_NN1 of_IO the_AT interview_NN1 follows_VVZ ._. &rsqb;_) 
What_DDQ is_VBZ a_AT1 stress_NN1 fracture_NN1 ,_, and_CC how_RRQ does_VDZ it_PPH1 develop_VVI ?_? 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ actually_RR a_AT1 very_RG small_JJ ,_, microscopic_JJ fracture_NN1 that_CST occurs_VVZ in_II the_AT outside_JJ portion_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 bone_NN1 called_VVN the_AT cortex_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 bone_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ constantly_RR under_II stress_NN1 will_VM eventually_RR weaken_VVI or_CC give_VVI ._. 
The_AT body_NN1 keeps_VVZ up_RP with_IW these_DD2 stresses_NN2 by_II generating_JJ osteoblasts_NN2 ,_, cells_NN2 that_CST make_VV0 bones_NN2 ._. 
At_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 there_EX are_VBR osteoclasts_NN2 --_JJ cells_NN2 that_CST take_VV0 away_RL older_JJR diseased_JJ or_CC broken_JJ bone_NN1 ,_, or_CC bone_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ worn_VVN out_RP ._. 
You_PPY have_VH0 a_AT1 balance_NN1 between_II osteoblastic_JJ activity_NN1 and_CC osteoclastic_JJ activity_NN1 ._. 
Eventually_RR osteoclastic_JJ activity_NN1 wins_VVZ out_RP ,_, and_CC that_DD1 is_VBZ literally_RR the_AT breaking_NN1 point_NN1 ._. 
Speculation_NN1 was_VBDZ that_CST Carlos_NP1 Beltran_NP1 might_VM have_VHI a_AT1 microfracture_NN1 in_II his_APPGE knee_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ is_VBZ the_AT difference_NN1 between_II a_AT1 microfracture_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 stress_NN1 fracture_NN1 ?_? 
That_DD1 's_VBZ a_AT1 good_JJ question_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 almost_RR see_VV0 them_PPHO2 being_VBG the_AT same_DA except_CS maybe_RR the_AT location_NN1 where_CS they_PPHS2 occur_VV0 ._. 
You_PPY do_VD0 n't_XX see_VVI too_RG many_DA2 stress_NN1 fractures_NN2 in_II the_AT knees_NN2 ._. 
Stress_NN1 fractures_NN2 are_VBR more_RRR an_AT1 issue_NN1 of_IO overuse_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 microfracture_NN1 could_VM be_VBI caused_VVN by_II trauma_NN1 ,_, like_II getting_VVG hit_VVN by_II something_PN1 ._. 
An_AT1 MRI_NN1 can_VM generally_RR give_VVI you_PPY an_AT1 answer_NN1 between_II a_AT1 bone_NN1 bruise_NN1 &lsqb;_( which_DDQ Beltran_NP1 was_VBDZ diagnosed_VVN with_IW &rsqb;_) and_CC a_AT1 microfracture_NN1 without_IW second-guessing_NN1 ._. 
Yao_NP1 Ming_NP1 fractured_VVD the_AT tarsal_NN1 navicular_JJ bone_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE left_JJ foot_NN1 ._. 
Which_DDQ bone_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST exactly_RR ?_? 
If_CS you_PPY look_VV0 at_II the_AT foot_NN1 from_II the_AT side_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ the_AT bone_NN1 that_CST sits_VVZ at_II the_AT top_NN1 of_IO the_AT arch_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 bone_NN1 you_PPY could_VM equate_VVI to_II a_AT1 keystone_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 arch_JJ --_NN1 the_AT stone_NN1 that_CST keeps_VVZ an_AT1 arch_NN1 from_II falling_VVG in_RP on_II itself_PPX1 ._. 
It_PPH1 carries_VVZ a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO weight_NN1 ._. 
The_AT bone_NN1 is_VBZ in_II the_AT mid-tarsal_NN1 region_NN1 ,_, where_CS the_AT heel_NN1 bone_NN1 and_CC forefoot_NN1 meet_VV0 ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO stress_NN1 and_CC force_NN1 on_II that_DD1 bone_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 possible_JJ treatment_NN1 for_IF Yao_NP1 is_VBZ to_TO let_VVI the_AT fracture_NN1 heal_NN1 naturally_RR ._. 
Can_VM all_DB fractures_NN2 heal_VVI naturally_RR ?_? 
No-specifically_RR ,_, not_XX in_II bones_NN2 that_CST do_VD0 not_XX have_VHI a_AT1 good_JJ blood_NN1 supply_NN1 ._. 
Without_IW a_AT1 good_JJ blood_NN1 supply_VV0 you_PPY will_VM not_XX get_VVI the_AT osteoblast_NN1 cells_NN2 ._. 
These_DD2 areas_NN2 are_VBR "_" nonunions_NN2 "_" --_NN1 they_PPHS2 will_VM not_XX heal_VVI --_NN1 due_II21 to_II22 the_AT poor_JJ blood_NN1 supply_NN1 ._. 
The_AT tarsal_NN1 navicular_JJ bone_NN1 has_VHZ poor_JJ blood_NN1 supply_NN1 ._. 
Yao_NP1 injured_VVD the_AT foot_NN1 in_II May_NPM1 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 are_VBR in_II July_NPM1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 did_VDD another_DD1 bone_NN1 scan_VVI ,_, and_CC they_PPHS2 can_VM tell_VVI it_PPH1 is_VBZ not_XX healing_JJ ._. 
So_RR now_RT they_PPHS2 have_VH0 to_TO ask_VVI ,_, what_DDQ will_VM be_VBI the_AT difference_NN1 if_CS we_PPIS2 let_VV0 it_PPH1 rest_VVI another_DD1 six_MC months_NNT2 or_CC should_VM we_PPIS2 do_VDI more_DAR aggressive_JJ treatments_NN2 ,_, like_II a_AT1 bone_NN1 bridge_NN1 or_CC a_AT1 bone_NN1 graft_NN1 ,_, where_CS you_PPY take_VV0 a_AT1 different_JJ region_NN1 of_IO bone_NN1 and_CC insert_VV0 it_PPH1 into_II the_AT gap_NN1 ?_? 
How_RGQ long_RR does_VDZ it_PPH1 take_VVI to_TO recover_VVI from_II such_DA injuries_NN2 ?_? 
Under_II the_AT best_JJT conditions_NN2 ,_, say_VV0 you_PPY were_VBDR a_AT1 relatively_RR healthy_JJ and_CC nonsmoking_VVG young_JJ person_NN1 and_CC you_PPY had_VHD no_AT big_JJ competition_NN1 in_II31 front_II32 of_II33 you_PPY ,_, the_AT textbook_NN1 would_VM say_VVI eight_MC to_II 12_MC weeks_NNT2 ._. 
A_AT1 problem_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST pros_NN2 rush_VV0 back_RP to_TO play_VVI ._. 
Sometimes_RT they_PPHS2 put_VV0 titanium_NN1 screws_NN2 and_CC plates_NN2 in_RP to_TO take_VVI the_AT stress_NN1 ,_, but_CCB the_AT bones_NN2 may_VM not_XX heal_VVI ._. 
Yao_NP1 is_VBZ at_II the_AT crossroads_NN1 of_IO making_VVG a_AT1 decision_NN1 now_RT ._. 
Do_VD0 I_PPIS1 let_VVI it_PPH1 heal_VVI by_II itself_PPX1 ,_, or_CC do_VD0 I_PPIS1 try_VVI another_DD1 method_NN1 ?_? 
Rest_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT healer_NN1 ._. 
If_CS you_PPY keep_VV0 disrupting_VVG the_AT healing_NN1 ,_, by_II constantly_RR putting_VVG the_AT same_DA load_NN1 and_CC stress_NN1 on_II the_AT foot_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ not_XX going_VVGK to_TO heal_VVI ._. 
Yao_NP1 has_VHZ had_VHN bone_NN1 fractures_NN2 in_II the_AT past_NN1 ._. 
Are_VBR some_DD people_NN more_RGR prone_JJ to_II getting_VVG fractures_NN2 ?_? 
They_PPHS2 are_VBR ._. 
One_MC1 reason_NN1 could_VM be_VBI foot_NN1 mechanics_NN2 ._. 
Is_VBZ he_PPHS1 a_AT1 flatfoot_NN1 ?_? 
Does_VDZ he_PPHS1 have_VHI a_AT1 higher_JJR arch_NN1 ?_? 
Does_VDZ he_PPHS1 have_VHI maybe_RR a_AT1 short_JJ leg_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 long_JJ leg_NN1 ?_? 
If_CS you_PPY upset_VV0 the_AT mechanics_NN2 ,_, you_PPY can_VM concentrate_VVI the_AT stress_NN1 in_II a_AT1 way_NN1 that_CST it_PPH1 is_VBZ not_XX normally_RR focused_VVN ._. 
These_DD2 are_VBR things_NN2 we_PPIS2 look_VV0 at_II to_TO explain_VVI why_RRQ people_NN that_CST are_VBR healthy_JJ and_CC built_VVD to_TO play_VVI these_DD2 sports_NN2 keep_VV0 getting_VVG hurt_JJ ._. 
Another_DD1 thing_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST Yao_NP1 is_VBZ seven_MC feet_NN2 ,_, six_MC inches_NNU2 &lsqb;_( 2.28_MC meters_NN2 &rsqb;_) and_CC has_VHZ a_AT1 foot_NN1 size_NN1 of_IO 18_MC ._. 
That_DD1 is_VBZ a_AT1 small_JJ foot_NN1 for_IF someone_PN1 so_RG tall_JJ ,_, so_CS the_AT pressure_NN1 his_APPGE body_NN1 exerts_VVZ is_VBZ distributed_VVN over_RP less_DAR area_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 have_VH0 players_NN2 at_II Temple_NP1 that_CST are_VBR a_AT1 foot_NN1 shorter_JJR than_CSN him_PPHO1 and_CC wear_VV0 a_AT1 size_NN1 20_MC ._. 
Presumably_RR ,_, Yao_NP1 would_VM be_VBI forced_VVN to_TO retire_VVI if_CSW he_PPHS1 kept_VVD getting_VVG fractures_NN2 or_CC the_AT fracture_NN1 never_RR heals_VVZ properly_RR ._. 
So_RR how_RRQ did_VDD he_PPHS1 most_RGT likely_RR injure_VVI his_APPGE foot_NN1 ?_? 
I_PPIS1 have_VH0 a_AT1 general_JJ observation_NN1 that_CST people_NN may_VM be_VBI under_II the_AT assumption_NN1 that_CST this_DD1 is_VBZ something_PN1 you_PPY might_VM get_VVI from_II jumping_NN1 ._. 
Yao_NP1 has_VHZ over_II a_AT1 two-foot-_NN1 &lsqb;_( 60-centimeter-_NN1 &rsqb;_) high_JJ vertical_JJ leap_NN1 ._. 
Yet_RR it_PPH1 is_VBZ not_XX so_RG much_DA1 causing_VVG injuries_NN2 as_II the_AT running_NN1 up_RP and_CC down_RP the_AT court_NN1 ._. 
Due_II21 to_II22 the_AT soft_JJ tissue_NN1 of_IO the_AT foot_NN1 and_CC the_AT nature_NN1 of_IO the_AT arch_NN1 ,_, there_EX is_VBZ not_XX as_RG much_DA1 impact_NN1 coming_VVG down_RP from_II a_AT1 layup_NN1 shot_VVN as_CSA there_EX is_VBZ running_VVG up_RP and_CC down_RP the_AT court_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ are_VBR the_AT risks_NN2 for_IF everyday_JJ or_CC recreational_JJ athletes_NN2 ?_? 
Runners_NN2 tend_VV0 to_TO develop_VVI more_DAR stress_NN1 fractures_NN2 than_CSN walkers_NN2 ._. 
In_II running_VVG there_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 flight_NN1 phase_NN1 where_CS you_PPY are_VBR off_II the_AT ground_NN1 with_IW both_RR feet_NN2 and_CC landing_VVG on_II one_MC1 foot_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 have_VH0 the_AT rule_NN1 of_IO three_MC :_: three_MC times_NNT2 your_APPGE body_NN1 weight_NN1 on_II impact_NN1 ._. 
So_RR ,_, if_CS you_PPY are_VBR 100_MC pounds_NN2 &lsqb;_( 45_MC kilograms_NNU2 &rsqb;_) ,_, you_PPY are_VBR hitting_VVG the_AT ground_NN1 with_IW 300_MC pounds_NN2 &lsqb;_( 135_MC kilograms_NNU2 &rsqb;_) of_IO force_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 walker_NN1 always_RR has_VHZ one_MC1 foot_NN1 on_II the_AT ground_NN1 ;_; therefore_RR ,_, the_AT force_NN1 is_VBZ divided_VVN between_II legs_NN2 ,_, and_CC only_RR 1.5_MC times_NNT2 the_AT body_NN1 weight_NN1 goes_VVZ to_II a_AT1 foot_NN1 ._. 
Overdoing_VVG it_PPH1 is_VBZ the_AT high_JJ risk_NN1 ._. 
You_PPY know_VV0 when_RRQ training_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 marathon_NN1 you_PPY can_VM only_RR run_VVI 100-mile_JJ weeks_NNT2 for_IF so_RG long_RR before_II the_AT osteoclast_NN1 cells_NN2 begin_VV0 acting_VVG ._. 
The_AT bones_NN2 are_VBR constantly_RR remodeling_VVG to_TO adapt_VVI to_II the_AT stress_NN1 and_CC get_VVI to_II the_AT point_NN1 where_RRQ the_AT osteoblast_NN1 cells_NN2 can_VM not_XX keep_VVI up_RP with_IW the_AT osteoclast_NN1 cells_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ are_VBR removing_VVG bone_NN1 tissue_NN1 ._. 
Yao_NP1 reportedly_RR is_VBZ feeling_VVG no_AT symptoms_NN2 and_CC has_VHZ no_AT physical_JJ signs_NN2 from_II the_AT fracture_NN1 ._. 
Is_VBZ it_PPH1 possible_JJ a_AT1 person_NN1 might_VM not_XX know_VVI if_CSW they_PPHS2 have_VH0 a_AT1 fracture_NN1 ?_? 
Yao_NP1 is_VBZ probably_RR not_XX training_VVG ._. 
The_AT minute_NNT1 he_PPHS1 would_VM go_VVI back_RP and_CC train_VVI he_PPHS1 would_VM feel_VVI it_PPH1 ._. 
You_PPY can_VM not_XX play_VVI through_II it_PPH1 ._. 
In_II other_JJ words_NN2 ,_, something_PN1 like_II tendonitis_NN1 starts_VVZ to_TO feel_VVI better_RRR after_CS you_PPY warm_VV0 up_RP and_CC while_CS you_PPY play_VV0 ,_, but_CCB a_AT1 stress_NN1 fracture_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX get_VVI better_RRR ._. 
It_PPH1 gets_VVZ worse_JJR ._. 
