Stress fractures

Stress fractures commonly occur in feet and most often in the metatarsals, which are the long bones located at the front of the foot.

Stress fractures initially present as a dull ache or soreness after weight bearing activity and become more severe if they remain unresolved, limiting your ability to participate in exercise and activities involving prolonged standing or walking. 

How do they develop?

Typically, they develop from repeated loading of bone, where the bone is unable to recover adequately between bouts of activity, such as walking, running, or jumping. Eventually microscopic damage occurs to the bone and a stress fracture forms.

Other factors may contribute, such a low bone density. This can develop for many reasons, including osteoporosis and vitamin D insufficiency.

Diagnosis

Your local podiatrist can help to diagnose stress fractures. The diagnosis is clarified by a combination of history taking, symptoms and imaging such as x-ray, CT, MRI or bone scan. The type of imaging is often dependent on the location of symptoms.

Management

Your podiatrist can help to develop a management plan to ensure that you are back on your feet and active as soon as possible. In mild cases the management may be as simple as activity modification or a short period of limited weight bearing. In more severe cases, more significant offloading may be required. Other factors, such as osteopenia may need to be addressed in collaboration with your general practitioner or medical specialist.  

A gradual return to activity is the safest way back to normal activity levels. Your podiatrist can help to develop an appropriate plan.

If you have any concerns regarding your foot health or are experiencing foot pain, feel free to get in touch.