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Stress fractures occur typically when you do too much exercise, however they may occur just going for a walk. It is the bodies way of saying I have had enough. Tiny cracks develop in your bones when your muscles become overtired (fatigued) and can no longer absorb the shock of repeated impacts. When this happens, the muscles transfer the stress to the bones, creating a small crack or fracture.
Stress fractures also can occur with normal usage if osteoporosis or some other disease weakens your bones and leaves them vulnerable. These fractures are often called "insufficiency fractures" because there isn't enough bone to withstand the normal stress of daily use.
Most stress fractures occur in the weight bearing bones of the foot and lower leg. The most commonly affected site is the second or third of the long bones (metatarsals) between the toes and the midfoot. Stress fractures also can occur in the heel, the outer bone of the lower leg (fibula) and the navicular, a bone on the top of the midfoot.
Doing too much too soon is a common cause of stress fractures. Runner who have been confined indoors for most of the winter may want to pick up where they left off at the end of the previous season. Instead of starting slowly, they try to match their previous mileage. The result could be stress fractures in the foot and ankle.
Improper sports equipment, such as shoes that are too worn or stiff, also can contribute to stress fractures. A change of surface, such as going from a grass tennis court to one of clay or from an indoor to an outdoor running track, can increase the risk of stress fractures. Errors in training or technique are another cause of stress fractures. Some conditions, such as flatfoot or bunions, can change the mechanics of your foot and make stress fractures more likely to develop.
If you have pain in your foot visit your Podiatrist, who will assess you and treat you appropriately.
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Page last updated 14 October, 2007