What are Foot Stress Fractures and How Can I Avoid Them?
Foot stress fractures are present when the bone has been cracked or broken. There are two types of stress fractures: traumatic fractures and stress fractures.
Traumatic foot stress fractures can occur after an event of great force. Examples of such events are a car wreck, a physical altercation, or a long fall. The force created during these events has the strength to crack or break bones and, depending on the amount of force, the event could result in multiple broken bones at a time.
Foot stress fractures can occur after an event that creates a smaller amount of force repeatedly applied in the same spot. In these instances, the bone may crack or break but does not move out of place as is the case with the traumatic fracture. Foot stress fractures are most common in people with thin bones, such as those with osteoporosis. It may also occur in people with strong bones but that play very physical sports like soccer or basketball.
A large number of stress fractures occur in the feet, the area of the body that is most used in daily errands and sports.
Avoiding Foot Stress Fractures
Preventative care can provide the essentials for a healthy and active lifestyle. Doctors recommend eating diets that are high in calcium and vitamin D to maintain or increase bone density. They also advise the practice of cross-training, which is the practice of alternating physical activities on a regular basis. This can include creating a routine of swimming, biking, and jogging with slow introductions to new sports.
Those with active lifestyles also need to wear high-quality, good-fitting shoes. These shoes need to have padding and offer support. In addition, the designer should make them sport specific. And, as always, most doctors recommend not smoking because the nicotine in cigarettes can prevent the body from healing properly. Longer healing times mean less enjoyable active time.
A Physician’s Care
Those with active lifestyles need to go for annual checkups to ensure the continuation of good health and to provide preventative care or treatment for minor issues. When doctors treat small issues promptly, healing times, if any, are reduced significantly allowing for a full and active lifestyle.
The professionals at Michigan Podiatry provide professional and prompt services for the entire family. We invite new patients to make an appointment for an annual checkup or to obtain treatment for a sports-related injury today. Contact us today to request an appointment.
A Jones Fracture is a break of a bone in the foot called the “fifth metatarsal.” It’s on your foot’s outer side, behind the little toe. With a Jones fracture, this bone breaks on the end furthest from the toe. The fifth metatarsal doesn’t have a good blood supply there, so healing can be difficult.