Stress Fracture

Stress Fractures

By Arden Smith DPM, FACFAS, FACFAOM

Older adults are particularly vulnerable to stress fractures, or tiny cracks in the bone, because the trabeculae, the spongy tissue that connects your bodies bones, thin with age. The most common symptom is pain with activity that subsides with rest. 

At Advanced Foot Care we saw a lot of stress fractures throughout the pandemic. People were barefoot more because they worked from home, and they gained  weight, which together is not a good combination.

It’s important to realize that the symptoms of a stress fracture are more subtle than those you may experience with an actual broken bone. In fact, a lot of people don’t even realize they have one.  There’s usually not much swelling or bruising, they don’t remember hurting themselves, and they usually can still walk, albeit with pain. 

If pain lasts more than a few days and doesn’t seem to get better with ice and rest, please come in to see one of our award-winning expert podiatrists at Advanced Foot Care of Manhasset, Huntington, Coram, Woodbury, Mineola, Williston Park, Maspeth and Ronkonkoma.  Treatment will usually consist of a walking boot until adequate healing has taken place.