$Unique_ID{BRK02361} $Pretitle{} $Title{What Is and How Did I Get A Stress Fracture?} $Subject{stress fracture fractures bone calcaneus foot heel navicular ankle metatarsus tomography crack forefoot musculoskeletal system bones feet heels ankles metatarsal exercise exercises exercising cracks cracked} $Volume{M-17} $Log{ Fractures*0003500.tid Fractures: Simple*0003501.scf Fractures: Compound*0003502.scf Fractures: Comminuted*0003503.scf Fractures: Complete*0003504.scf Fractures: Greenstick*0003505.scf Fractures: Buckle*0003506.scf Heel Pain*0006204.scf Anatomy of the Ankle and Knee*0016901.scf} Copyright (c) 1992,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. What Is and How Did I Get A Stress Fracture? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: I don't know why these things keep happening to me, but now I am dealing with the restrictions of a "stress fracture" in my foot. Where did I go wrong? And how do I get back on track? Please help! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: When an athlete trains too hard too often, the unrelenting pressure this kind of workout puts on certain parts of the body can cause fractures or breaks in the bone structure. This can also be true for the "weekend warrior" playing sandlot baseball or football on a Sunday afternoon. While it can't be denied that bone grows stronger in response to exercise, if the stress is sudden and/or intense, the bone won't have time to adjust and a fracture may result. The sites most commonly involved in this kind of injury are the calcaneus (heel bone), the navicular (ankle bone), and metatarsus, the five bones that connect the ankle to the toes. A stress fracture of the calcaneus causes pain when the patient puts weight on his heels. Sometimes it takes months before the break shows up on x-ray. And treatment usually means decreasing activity until the pain subsides, aided by a soft pad in the heel of the shoe. Navicular fractures, despite the characteristic pain and swelling that comes and goes with activity, are more difficult to diagnose because they are seldom visible on routine x-ray. Tomography (a special x-ray technique which helps focus in a particular area of concern) can pinpoint the crack, usually followed by treatment consisting of a series of plaster casts over a twelve-week period, until activity can be gradually resumed. Metatarsal fractures, common to ballet dancers and military recruits, produce a generalized ache or swelling in the forefoot and appear on x-ray soon after the onset of pain. Decreased activity and a wooden-soled shoe is the treatment of choice. In severe cases a walking cast or complete immobilization of the injury might be required. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.