newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A loaded schedule appears to have finally caught up with hyperactive mother of three and New Jersey native Kelly Ripa. The talk show host surprised her viewers this week when she walked onto the set of "Live with Regis and Kelly" with the help of co-host Regis Philbin - and a pair of crutches.

And when Ripa hobbled on the show's set she was wearing a pair of at least four inch high heels.

According to the New York Daily News, Ripa, 40, explained that, after having pain in her hip for a number of weeks, she visited Philbin's doctor, who confirmed she had a stress fracture.

"So that means no exercise for three to six weeks," Ripa, who works out excessively, said. "Right away I was like, 'What?! There must be a mistake!'"

The doctor said Ripa likely made a minor problem worse because she rarely rested.

But Dr. Randall E. Marcus, the department chairman of orthopedics at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, says that a stress fracture occurs when a bone has had more stress on it than it can absorb.

"If you're on crutches, you should wear good, supportive shoes," Marcus told AOL Health. "It's not prudent to wear high heels because you run the risk of falling or losing balance and putting more weight on the injury."

Marcus did not treat Ripa and doesn't know the specifics about her condition, but he said that stress fractures are usually sustained by doing too much activity too fast.

Marcus expressed concern that her appearance in high heels will send the wrong message to those trying to heal from a hip injury.

Ripa has been active for a long time. Born in Stratford, New Jersey, she began studying ballet at the age of three and appeared as a dancer on Dance Party USA when she was 19.

Ripa's father has been the County Clerk for Camden County, New Jersey since June 2009.

Kelly's Facebook page says Ripa went to Berlin Community School in Berlin, New Jersey, later attending Eastern High School in Voorhees Township, New Jersey.

According to biography.com, Ripa attended Camden Community College in New Jersey where she performed in local theater productions before landing the role of Hayley Santos on the ABC daytime drama "All My Children" in 1991. She was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the role in both 1993 and 1999.

In February 2001, Ripa joined co-host Regis Philbin for ABC's morning talk show "Live with Regis and Kelly," replacing longtime co-host Kathie Lee Gifford. She continued to appear periodically on "All My Children" alongside husband and co-star Mark Consuelos; in 2002, she left the show.

Meanwhile, Mail Online reports 79-year-old co-host Regis Philbin shared his own story of a painful injury on the show.

Claiming that he had had a "medical tragedy", Philbin went on to explain that he was opening a package with a box cutter and "sliced" into his hand.