How to Identify a Metatarsal Stress Fracture

A metatarsal stress fracture is a fracture that occurs in one or more of the metarsals, or bones of the foot. Metatarsal stress fractures are generally overuse injuries due to increased intensity in exercise, insufficient rest or improper footwear. The muscles can no longer absorb the stress, which puts more pressure on the bone, causing tiny fractures. Stress fractures can be difficult to identify, because they occur gradually, rather than from a specific injury or incident. They are most common in runners, basketball players, gymnasts and other athletes.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at your foot. Is it swollen or bruised? Does it look larger or different from your noninjured foot? Bruising and swelling on the top of the foot, where the metatarsal bones are located, are signs of a metatarsal stress fracture.

• 2

  Gently touch your foot. Is it tender or sore to the touch? Does it hurt at a certain point along the top of the foot? Tenderness, especially in a specific location on the top of your foot, is another sign of a metatarsal stress fracture.

• 3

  Think about your recent activity. Did you increase your training or the intensity of your workouts? Are you wearing new shoes, or did you feel a gradual increase in pain in your foot? Any type of change in your routine, especially escalating training, can put increased pressure on your bones, causing stress fractures.

• 4

  Try and put weight on your foot. Metatarsal stress fractures are particularly sensitive to bearing weight. If it hurts to walk, run or jump, and the pain diffuses from the top of your foot, you probably have a metatarsal stress fracture.

• 5

  Visit a podiatrist or orthopedic specialist. Describe your symptoms and the onset and length of the pain, as well as your activity level. Most likely, he will take an X-ray or bone scan of your foot to confirm the presence of a metatarsal stress fracture.