To test for femoral stress a doctor will start by doing a physical exam and then do other tests like the Fulcrum Test and the Lateral Hop Test.
The Fulcrum Test and the Lateral Hop Test, can indicate pain during certain movements.
If your physical exam is positive, then an MRI also called Magnetic Resonance Imaging tests will often be done which is the most effective way of diagnosing and confirming the diagnosis and also locating your fracture.
And even X-rays are also often normal in the early stages of femoral stress.
To perform the Fulcrum Test, you will sit on a bench and the doctor places their forearm under your thigh, using it as a fulcrum.
Then gentle pressure is applied to the front of your thigh, and if a sharp pain or apprehension occurs when the fulcrum is moved to the suspected fracture site, the test will be positive.
The lateral Hop Test also known as the Zigzag Hop Test, is when you stand on the affected leg and perform a series of hops in a zigzag motion and any pain that occurs in the thigh or groin during the hops is considered to be a positive sigh.
An MRI test can detect stress fractures of your femur, and it can also identify bone marrow edema or swelling and periosteal edema, which is swelling of your bone's outer layer, which appear even before any visible changes are noted on an X-ray.
And even a bone scan can be done which is also called a Scintigraphy, which is a triple phase bone scan that can be used to diagnose stress fractures.
Femoral stress is a stress injury to your femur, "thigh bone", which commonly occurs in athletes from overuse and high impact activities such as running.
Symptoms of femoral stress pain and tenderness in your thigh or groin which gets worse with activity and improves with rest.
Diagnosis can be challenging and early X-rays can appear normal.
Treatment for femoral stress involves rest, addressing risk factors like gradual training progression, wearing proper footwear and good nutrition as well as a gradual return to your normal activity.