The Right Way to Recover from Stress Fractures

The Dad’s Day 5k is this Saturday, June 14 at 7:45 AM in downtown Houston. If you and your dad or family are registered in one of the Running and stress fracturescategories, it would be a shame to be sidelined from the fun because of stress fractures. Unfortunately, this injury is a common reason for having to sit out a race.

A stress fracture is a small but painful crack in your bone surface that happens over time from repeated trauma or stress. You might suffer from one of these fractures if you increase your activity level suddenly instead of building up slowly, if you run a lot on hard surfaces, or if you have another bone condition, such as osteoporosis. During the early stages you might feel pain only in the beginning of your workout. As it progresses, you will feel pain all the time. It’s very important to catch it early so that you can begin the healing process.
The first thing you must do is discontinue the activity that caused the stress fracture. Rest and elevate your feet whenever possible. You can also put ice on your foot to reduce the swelling. This home care is important, but when dealing with a break in your body you should also come in and let us take a look. We can set you up with crutches, medications, custom-made orthotics, and even a cast should you need one. We will also let you know when you can resume your activity and get back to normal. We will give you instructions on how to start training again safely. This might include going to physical therapy or wearing supportive inserts in your shoes.
Call Dr. Marco Vargas and Dr. Joyce Lee at (888) 784-5335 to learn more about stress fractures and set up an appointment. Let the staff at Foot and Ankle Associates in Houston help you heal, so you can get back to running your favorite events.