Universities in Purdue and Toledo are applying the same basic sound detection technique seismologists use to measure earthquakes, to indicate that a bone is under stress and a fracture could result.

The concept of this monitor, is to create a device that monitors the formation of very small cracks in bones that lead to hairline stress fractures.

It’s a device that could be worn on the foot and could alert a footballer that they should stop training, until the bone has healed.

There have been several England international players that have broken a metatarsal, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Ashley Cole, Gary Neville and of course Wayne Rooney (Rooney Injury – Football Boots to Blame).