Among all the twists and turns in the Lionesses' Euro 2025 victory over Spain last night, one of the most unexpected revelations came after the match, when defender Lucy Bronze admitted she had competed throughout the tournament with abroken leg.
Reports of Bronze's broken left tibia – her lower leg bone – have only enhanced her heroic image, yet they have also raised confusion about how she managed to compete in an international competition with an injury that seems like it would have kept her off the field.crutches.
The reasoning is that Bronze almost certainly did not experience a complete or full break of her tibia – where the bone splits into two distinct pieces – but rather had a partial crack, also referred to as a stress fracture.
Hairline crack
“It’s very unlikely that Lucy Bronzesuffered a complete tibia fracture, as you would certainly not be able to play with a full break. It is much more probable that it is a stress fracture," said Professor Jon Dawson, an expert in regenerative medicine at the University of Southampton's Bone and Joint Research Group.
A fracture of this kind is a fine crack, as narrow as a hair, that does not fully break the bone. Although we are unaware of the specifics of Bronze's injury, hairline fractures can differ in how serious they are.
On the more casual side, they are tiny fractures in the bone that may cause discomfort but can recover on their own without treatment – or occasionally go unnoticed by individuals.
More serious hairline fracturescan be extremely uncomfortable, and individuals experiencing it might require pain medication along with assistance in allowing the bone to recover by keeping their leg still and using a brace for support. "Our aim is to reduce pressure on that area as much as possible, since if it's painful, it could be hindering the healing process," explained Uzo Ehiogu, a physiotherapist at the Royal Orthopedic Hospital in Birmingham and a representative of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Read Next: Prince George's Lionesses missing out was a poor display
Bronze revealed to the media on Sunday that she discovered the fracture in May following intense pain near the end of the football season.
Many individuals experience minor fractures without being aware of them," explained Professor Dawson. "They may feel pain, but they might not realize there's a fracture," he added. "However, since [Bronze] will have access to extensive medical care, she would have undergone imaging tests like MRIs on her leg, which could have identified the fracture. This might not have been the case for others.
Women aremore probable for women to experience hairline fractures, possibly due to men's bones being denser, noted Dr. Claire Clarkin, a skeletal biologist from the University of Southampton. "This could make them more prone to breaking when subjected to greater forces experienced during football-related injuries."
Lightened training load
There would have been discussion regarding the safety of Bronze playing in the Euros, and her training schedule would have been adjusted to minimize additional strain on her leg. "The amount of training she was permitted to do would have been reduced," said Ehiogu. "It would have been limited to what is strictly necessary."
Bronze mentioned following her disclosure on Sunday that she had skipped certain training sessions. "I couldn't handle taking a large quantity of medication constantly, so I didn't train consistently, but I still participated in the games and fought for my team. It was worthwhile."
In addition to painkillers, Bronze might have benefited from a surge of adrenaline and the drive to assist her teammates in their historic victory. "There's a significant psychological effect linked to the team, and also the grandeur and importance of the competition," Ehiogu stated.
This occurs once every four years. Additionally, I believe she is nearing the end of her career, making this likely her final opportunity. The psychological impact of all these factors combined would have been substantial.
Bronze showed visible discomfort at certain points throughout the competition, and in last night's championship match, she injured her right knee, walking off the field during extra time.
Ehiogu remarked: "I guess she's feeling sore this morning. However, the joy of realizing they've just created history is likely to ease the discomfort."