Medically Reviewed by Dr. Rachel N. Verville
January 30, 2019
When people in Frisco experience a stress fracture, they typically want to know what bones are affected, how the injury occurred and what they can do to prevent it from happening again. The truth is a stress fracture can happen in any bone located in the foot or the lower leg. Stress fractures are most common in these areas since they have the burden of supporting the weight of the body. Exercising impacts these areas even more due to the force put on them.
Knowing which bones in the foot are most affected by a stress fracture can help a person self-diagnose it if they feel any sort of prolonged discomfort in the area. Of course, it’s always recommended to visit Dr. Verville for an evaluation. Here are the most common bones in the foot affected by a stress fracture.
Second and Third Metatarsals
The metatarsals are the bones that connect the toes with the midfoot. These are very small bones and can experience microscopic damage over time if a repetitive force is placed on them. A stress fracture in the second and third metatarsals can take a while to heal completely since it’s impossible to avoid putting pressure on them due to walking. However, simple modifications to the walking style and shifting the force slightly can relieve some of the pressure and help the recovery process.
Navicular
The navicular is a bone on the top of the foot near the ankle. A stress fracture in this area of the foot typically affects people in Frisco who do high-impact training, such as explosive jumping or sprinting. Most of the time resting the affected foot will provide the quickest healing of a navicular stress fracture. Dr. Verville sees patients with a navicular stress fracture often and can typically diagnose these types quickly.
The Heel
Another common stress fracture Frisco people experience is in the heel. A stress fracture in this area sometimes just feels like a bruise that subsides when the pressure is taken off of it, particularly when sitting or lying down. Since the heel is one of the strongest bones in the foot, it typically takes a significant amount of force on it over an extended period of time to experience a stress fracture.
Tibia and Fibula
The tibia and fibula are other bones in the foot and ankle that are prone to getting a stress fracture. Patients who believe they have shin splints are sometimes surprised to find out they have a stress fracture in the area after talking to Dr. Verville. While stress fractures to the tibia or fibula can require extended rest for proper healing, starting treatments early can speed up the process significantly.
RNV Podiatry understands how frustrating a stress fracture can be for Frisco patients, so we will do anything we can to help make the process smooth. There are many different bones in the foot, and the reality is most of them can develop a stress fracture over time. Working with an experienced doctor like Dr. Verville can ensure any injury recovers quickly so you can get back to your active lifestyle.
If you’re experiencing any discomfort in your feet or lower extremities, don’t hesitate to contact us at (214) 385-8822 to schedule an evaluation.
