Stress Fracture Foot

A stress fracture is a small fracture in the bone, often referred to as a hairline fracture.  Stress fractures can occur in any bone in the body; however the most common location is in the feet, where the weight of the body is concentrated. They are often considered a problem of overuse usually resulting from high impact sports, over-training, or undertaking activities to which the body is not conditioned.

Running, gymnastics, football, basketball and tennis are common sports which see the occurrence of the condition. Any sporting activity or exercise regime where the foot is put under high stress, strong forces and high impact landings can often lead to a stress fracture foot.

Muscle fatigue and over exertion are key factors which can contribute to the formation of small fractures in the bone. Over long exercise sessions, and when frequent exercise is undertaken without a suitable rest period, the muscles of the feet get fatigued and do not respond adequately. Without the musculature, tendons and ligaments working at full capacity the bones of the foot become subjected to unnatural pressures and repeated force can lead to fractures developing. The fractures need not be due to a heavy footfall and can be triggered by the most innocuous of landings.

Whilst you may think that increased forces and heavier activity would be more likely to see men suffering the most from stress fractures, it is actually a condition more prevalent with women. The reasons are a combination of three key factors, often referred to as the Female Athlete Triad. The triad is made up of eating disorders, amenorrhea (irregular periods) and osteoporosis. The first two contribute to the latter and it is osteoporosis which is the main reason for stress fractures, which can occur very early in life and are not necessarily a problem restricted to older women.

Weakening of bones can occur at any age, with teenage girls susceptible. The teenage years are an important time for the formation of strong and healthy bones, and poor nutrition can weaken the bones leading to early osteoporosis which will lead to severe problems in later life if action is not taken, with an increased chance of stress fractures.

A stress fracture foot problem is very common, in fact out of all of the likely locations for a stress fracture the foot is the most likely site, being the part of the body which receives the most pressure and stresses during exercise. Whilst women do have a higher risk of the problem due to lower bone density, the condition can affect men too. The majority of cases come from athletes and heavy exercisers especially from high impact sports.

The most common locations of a stress fracture foot are the second and third metatarsals; the long bones which run down to the toes. They can also occur in the heel and in the navicular bone, at the top of the midfoot in front of the ankle.

There are simple steps which can be taken to prevent stress fractures which are covered in the next section, together with details on the causes, treatment options and getting pain relief.