Stress Fractures in the Feet
For most injuries involving the feet, pain and swelling seem to be the first few symptoms. When you’ve got tenderness and maybe even the inability to put full weight on the foot, you may be describing symptoms of a stress fracture. Athletes who are involved in sports that include running or jumping are more likely to develop stress fractures in the feet because of the repetitive high impact that they must endure whenever they hit the ground. The more impact the bones experience, the more likely they will get bruised and possibly fractured. Additionally, dancers, golfers, and other athletes who perform repetitive motions that put pressure on specific bones are also more likely to experience stress fractures, especially with excessive practice without rest. Of course, certain sports include a risk of traumatic injury, in which a fracture can occur from a single traumatic event or repeated injury – such as if you keep bashing your foot or tripping while you practice certain moves. Once you’ve got a stress fracture…
- Use the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) to reduce painful symptoms in your feet. Sometimes, all you need is to rest and allow the bones to heal, especially if it’s just a bad bone bruise.
- If symptoms do not improve, and if tenderness, redness, and inflammation continue, you should make an appointment with our podiatrist ASAP. Depending on the severity of the fracture, treatment might include immobilization in a cast, orthotics, or brace. Mild fractures need several weeks to recover, so you may need to sit out of certain activities.
- For serious fractures, you may need surgical intervention to help stabilize the bones while they heal.