My Dr. says I have a stress fracture in my foot. What is that?

A stress fracture occurs when muscles become fatigued or overloaded and cannot absorb the stress and shock of repeated impact. Fatigued muscles transfer that stress to bone that is nearby and you have the result of a small crack or fracture, in the bone.
Stress fractures in the foot are usually caused by overuse. They can also be caused by repeated pounding on a hard surface, like running on concrete. Improper footwear during sports activities can contribute also.
Women seem to be at a greater risk of stress fractures because of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). This results in decreased bone density which is a risk for stress fractures.
The best treatment for a stress fracture is rest. If rest isn't followed through then chronic problems such as a larger and more persistent stress fracture can develop. Re-injury may result in a chronic foot problem and the fracture might never heal properly. At the Advanced Footcare Clinic we usually put a patient with a stress fracture into a soft cast (not a fiberglass cast) and an MC Walker boot to help immobilize (or rest) the foot.