Understanding Foot Stress Fractures - Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment

Foot stress fractures are a very common injury, yet should be taken seriously because if you do suffer from one, there's a good chance it's going to prevent you from living the life that you enjoy.

Many people don't fully understand this injury, which puts them at a higher risk of suffering from it as well as make it harder for them to recover from it down the road.

Some individuals also think that it's only very active people who are participating in rigorous activity on a daily basis who suffer from this injury, but that's not the case, either. Anyone can suffer from it, and if you aren't paying attention to all the preventive measures, your chances of being afflicted are that much higher.

Here are some of the important things and tips to know about foot stress fractures.

Causes Of Foot Stress Fractures

The biggest causes of foot stress fractures are overuse and overtraining. Whenever you are performing repetitive motion over and over again, you will be prone to suffering from such an ailment. Runners are the biggest group of individuals who suffer from such fractures, but others performing weight bearing activities are also at risk.

Women also tend to experience the injury more often, but this could in part be due to the fact that many are not eating proper diets and are setting themselves up for osteoporosis.

Those individuals who are not wearing proper footwear while walking or running will also be at a higher risk of the injury, since their bones will not be nearly as supported.

Signs and Symptoms Of Stress Fractures of the Foot

The typical symptoms of foot stress fractures include pain in the forefoot, which tends to get worse as the activity goes on, as well as tenderness and swelling around the ankle and foot. Usually, an x-ray is taken to confirm for certain that a stress fracture is at play in the injured foot. However, in some cases, it can be diagnosed just based on the pain itself and the stated cause of the pain.

Treatments for Stress Fractures of the Feet

The single best way to treat a foot stress fracture will be to rest and take a break from the activity that caused the injury. If you still want to maintain some level of activity, then you could perform a variation of exercise that is non-impact, such as swimming, which will still allow the foot to heal and you to stay in shape.

If you neglect to rest the foot after suffering from this injury, though, there is a much greater chance that it will just get worse and eventually it may never fully heal.

Prevention Of Feet Stress Fractures

The best way to deal with foot stress fractures is to just prevent them in the first place. This can be accomplished by making sure you increase the intensity of your program slowly rather than aiming to do too much too soon, as well as taking the time to eat a calcium-rich diet that promotes strong bones.

Many people don't get enough calcium in their daily diets, so make a conscious effort to add more low-fat yogurt and dark green leafy vegetables to your day.

Conclusion

Feet stress fractures are an injury that can be prevented or treated if they do occur, but you have to know what to look for and the best ways to go about recovery. If you don't, they are an injury that could keep you out of the game for quite some time.

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