Running creates repetitive stresses on the lower extremities producing microcracks in metatarsal bones due to material fatigue. When the rate of microcrack formation exceeds the rate of repair, a bone stress injury results. Understanding the formation of bone stress injury, and the factors that increase the risk for them can help diagnose and prevent injuries. Based on previous studies conducted on the analysis of microdamage, we developed a method to visualize and quantify microcrack damage. We created a seven-step protocol to induce, stain, visualize, and quantify bone damage to estimate the effects of running. Through testing and analysis, we found that staining bone samples in a 100% ethanol solution with 0.5 mM xylenol orange and a second 100% ethanol solution of 0.25 mM calcein successfully showed cracks forming in bone during different loading periods. Using our procedure, we determined our samples had 10,000 cracks per cm2 when cycled at 1Hz between 0.16 ± 0.01 Mpa and 5.1 ± 0.3 Mpa for 30,000 cycles.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Romanos, Rose
• Adams, Emily
• Carreiro, Victoria
• Raskevitz, Sierra
• Hopkins, Samuel

Subject

• Learning
• Health
• Project-Based Learning
• Well-Being
• Innovation

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 64511
• E-project-042722-162001

Keyword

• bone stress injuries
• fluorochromes
• running
• stress fractures

Advisor

• Ayobami, Funmi
• Troy, Karen

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• National Institute of Health

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Date created

• 2022-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright