It’s great to exercise for both physical and mental improvement, but if you do too much at once, you could end up with painful stress fractures.
Foot Stress Fractures Can Be Healed With Rest
Physical activity that is repeated or intense causes stress fractures, which are small cracks in bone tissue. It is common for stress fractures of the foot to occur on the metatarsals, causing pain in the forefoot that worsens when walking or running. These hairline breaks in the outer layer of bone can cause a surprising amount of pain.
It is imperative that you do the following if you experience pain in your foot’s ball or arch:
- Rest. Stop doing any extra physical activity if you suspect you have a stress fracture in your foot or ankle. If you do not rest your foot, you run the risk of breaking it even further, extending the recovery period. Don’t put weight on the affected leg until you’ve seen your podiatrist.
- Elevation. You should elevate your foot above the level of your heart when sitting down. Apply an ice pack to your swollen foot if it is swelling.
- Protection. During the healing process for your foot or ankle, shoes or a brace may be recommended to take the pressure off your leg.
- Prevention. Our doctors can create a simple stretching routine and exercises for your feet that will prepare them for increased activity once you have recovered from your stress fracture.
You may be suffering from an injury to your foot.
You can contact our office at 949-588-8833, or visit our website at https://www.ocfootdoctor.com. Our offices are in Laguna Hills, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, and Costa Mesa.