Foot pain after running, hiking, or increasing your activity level isn’t always ordinary soreness. Sometimes persistent pain can be a sign of a stress fracture in the foot.
Unlike a fracture caused by a single traumatic injury, a stress fracture can develop gradually. Recognizing the symptoms early can help prevent a small injury from becoming a bigger problem.
What Is a Stress Fracture in the Foot?
A stress fracture is a small crack or severe bone stress injury that develops when a bone is repeatedly loaded faster than the body can repair it.
The weight-bearing bones of the foot are particularly vulnerable because they absorb force with every step.
Stress fractures are common among runners and athletes, but you don’t have to participate in competitive sports to develop one.
What Causes a Foot Stress Fracture?
Repetitive activity is one of the most common causes. Risk can increase when you suddenly ask your body to do more than it’s accustomed to.
Contributing factors may include:
- Increasing running mileage too quickly
- Beginning a new exercise program
- High-impact sports
- Changes in training surfaces
- Worn or inappropriate footwear
- Insufficient recovery between workouts
- Certain conditions affecting bone health
Even a significant increase in everyday walking can place unfamiliar stress on your feet.
What Does a Stress Fracture in the Foot Feel Like?
A stress fracture often causes localized pain that becomes more noticeable during weight-bearing activity.
Symptoms may include:
- Pain in a specific area of the foot
- Tenderness when you press on the area
- Pain that worsens with running or walking
- Swelling
- Pain that improves with rest and returns with activity
As the injury progresses, pain may begin occurring during normal daily activities or even while resting.
Can You Walk on a Stress Fracture?
Being able to walk doesn’t mean your foot isn’t injured.
Continuing to repeatedly load a stress fracture can interfere with healing and potentially make the injury more severe. If you suspect a stress fracture, reducing the activity that causes pain and having your foot evaluated is important.
How Is a Foot Stress Fracture Treated?
Treatment generally focuses on giving the injured bone enough time and protection to heal.
Depending on the location and severity of the injury, treatment may include activity modification, protective footwear or immobilization, and a gradual return to activity.
Your provider can also help identify factors that may have contributed to the injury and recommend ways to reduce your risk of another stress fracture.
How Can Runners Help Prevent Stress Fractures?
Gradually increasing mileage is one of the most important steps runners can take. Appropriate footwear, adequate recovery, strength training, and paying attention to persistent pain are also important.
Don’t try to run through localized bone pain in hopes that it will simply disappear.
Stress Fracture Treatment in Eugene
If foot pain keeps returning every time you run, walk, or exercise, it’s worth finding out why.
Eugene Foot & Ankle can evaluate your symptoms, determine whether a stress fracture or another condition is responsible, and develop a treatment plan to help you return to activity safely.
Schedule an appointment today if persistent foot pain is keeping you from moving comfortably.
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