Skip to main content

Metatarsal Stress Fractures: How Chronic Forefoot Pain can be More Than you Think

Have you ever had a nagging pain the ball of the foot that doesn’t seem to go away. You feel it if yIu run and it gets better if you stop physical exercises for a couple of weeks. You may even notice some swelling in the area. Pain in the forefoot can have many causes from metatarsalgia to Morton’s neuroma to the dreaded stress fracture.

What is a Metatarsal Stress Fracture?

The metatarsal bones are a group of five long bones in the forefoot located between the tarsal bones (midfoot) and the toes. A metatarsal stress fracture or a march fracture can be caused by sudden impact or by repetitive microtrauma such as casual walking. A stress fracture progresses over the  period of many days, weeks or months.  It is characterized by swelling and pain which  are exacerbated with further activity and improve with rest. The initial onset of pain and swelling is gradual and hardly noticeable. Strenuous physical activity or high impact exercises can lead to worsening of both the swelling and the pain.

Who is Susceptible to Stress Fractures? 

In athletes, particularly runners, prolonged and repetitive exercise can cause enough stress for the bone to crack. Poor foot biomechanics can lead to overload of the forefoot leading to metatarsal stress fractures. Not limited to runners, this type of foot fractures can occur in gymnasts and ballet dancers. Furthermore, athletes engaged in high impact aerobics are more susceptible to metatarsal stress fractures.

Causes: 

The fracture is most commonly found in third and fourth metatarsal bones and can affect the second metatarsal if the second toe is longer than the first. Poor architecture of the foot leads to decrease in shock absorption at the forefoot causing the metatarsal bones to crack. Even feet with no biomechanical abnormalities can have a metatarsal stress fracture. Overuse such as running on hard surfaces in improper shoes or use of high heels for long periods of time can cause a stress fracture.
  • Overuse
  • Overpronation
  • Oversupintaion
  • Certain diseases that adversely affect bones and joints.

 

Consult With Podiatrist for Further Assessment and Treatment:

A brief history and physical examination is the first step. If there is a high index of suspension, an x-Ray and possibly MRI are performed. Metatarsal stress fractures can be difficult to detect on X- rays particularly in the first 2-3 weeks. As a result, MRI scan or ultrasound would be required to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out other causes of forefoot pain such as Morton’s neuroma, metatarsalgia or bursitis.

Dr Sami is an expert podiatrist in Dubai-UAE, interested in overuse injuries related to sports.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to make PR work for you

The digital era has transformed global business needs and many PR agencies have been forced to dust off their cobwebs and adapt to the complicated world of online content. So is traditional PR still relevant I hear you cry? The short answer is yes! Getting your story heard in the digital age may seem daunting but the same rules still apply; good old-fashioned PR and the practices that made it so effective in the first place still at the very core of it all. Understanding exactly what media and messaging an audience wants to engage with is what matters most and all you really need to do is give things a digital twist to ensure your message is actually heard. But doesn’t PR cost a lot of money? The good news is that PR doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  You don’t need to appoint a flashy high-priced agency that delights in racking up big bills and bombarding journalists with countless emails that will probably go straight to spam. Here are five tips to get you started. 1-...
1 comment
Read more

5 Easy Tips to improve your PSD File

Converting a PSD file into a full-fledged and functional website requires many factors to be considered. Minor mistakes can make you re-do the whole task which makes the process time consuming and problematic for both the developer and the client. Taking brilliant tips for PSD file conversion is not a hard thing to do! Now you are going to read the useful tips and advice in this blog which will surely make your work easier. 1- Content flexibility matters: Text, images and visual elements are a vital part of the website. A good performing website should have the flexibility to easily manage the added content. The current design trends depict the use of more design and less content (Text). In some cases, your design with less or no area for content can work but not always. So make your website design adjustable and adaptable to the specific text or any other content type. 2- Do not go for blending modes: Modes in different software do not give the same and smooth results w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Guide for How to prepare different Wall surfaces for Tiling

Beautiful tiles give exquisite look to the walls of your place. If you decide to refurbish your property, it is the best time to decorate your walls with tiles. There are many types of tiles available, so elegant in appearance that you will get confused in choosing the perfect ones. You can tile your bathroom, living room or bedroom but the process begins with the preparation of walls. It is recommended to keep the walls free from moisture, grease and dust before tiling. General preparations for all types of walls: These are ‘preps fit for all’ sort of tips to prepare your house for tiling. Remove old wallpapers Remove the plaster Clean the dust and coarse Look for holes and cracks Fill these holes with layering and sand the surface Wipe the walls Apply primer before tiling the surface Way to prepare plywood for tiling: If the wall is of plywood then it will be difficult for tiling. Plywood undergoes continual changes due to the oil in it. This oil loses the grip of...
Post a Comment
Read more