How to know if you have a foot stress fracture

If you’re a runner concerned about foot pain, it is worth considering whether you might have a stress fracture.

This guide offers some useful tips explaining what a stress fracture is, how to test for these injuries and how to avoid them in future.

What is a stress fracture?

A stress fracture is diagnosed as a crack in the bone’s surface, ordinarily found in the lower leg or foot metatarsals. It begins as a reaction to bone and muscle soreness following an increase in training intensity and volume over a long period.

It isn’t always easy to distinguish stress fractures from stress reactions, which is when it is necessary to see a podiatrist for a clinical diagnosis.

This condition can be attributed to different factors such as worn shoes, excessive mileage or hilly terrain. There are also contributory medical conditions such as osteopenia or osteoporosis, which can be aggravated by insufficient calcium intake.

There are typically three main methods of testing for a foot stress fracture: applying a procedure known as ‘the hop test’, identifying swelling or bruising and looking out for changes in your running biomechanics. When X-rays do not pick up stress fractures, doctors conduct MRIs to definitively detect them.

While some patients can be immobilised, others will still be able to cross-train, performing low-impact activities such as swimming or cycling. This will also allow time to build strength with resistance training. Resumption of running should be gradual, at a recommended maximum 10% per week.

For further advice on a suitable marathon recovery plan, contact Maximum Mileage Coaching today.

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