On this page we are going to provide some prevention and treatment
options for metatarsal stress fractures that may be prescribed by your
doctor. Before we start, however, we want to advise anyone who thinks
they might have a stress fracture to have it evaluated by a podiatrist.
Stress fractures that are not treated correctly can lead to more serious
fractures that might require long-term immobilization or even surgery.
We don’t recommend home remedies for stress fractures.
If
you think you might have a stress fracture, stay off your foot until you
get it evaluated by a doctor. Your doctor my prescribe a “walking boot”
(removable cast). We recommend the
Ossur Equalizer Walker to our patients who don’t want to
purchase a boot through the office.
Several studies have shown that orthotics that conform closely to your
arch reduce the strain on the metatarsal bones, thus reducing chance of
stress fractures. Custom orthotics have been shown to work best, but if
you cannot get a custom orthotic you can try a prefabricated orthotic.
The best one we have found for stress fracture prevention is the
PowerStep Medical Grade Orthotic. This orthotic works well because it
does a better job than most OTC arch supports at reducing pressure under
the metatarsal bones.
To help prevent stress fractures wear a stable shoe at all times (if you
are not wearing a walker). You can
download our list of recommended
shoes. One of favorite walking shoes for people with a history of
metatarsal stress fracture is the
Orthaheel Walker
shoe. Very stable and
offers good cushion.
It is a good idea to have arch support most of time to prevent the
return of the stress fractures. For patients who don’t want to wear a
shoe around the house, we suggest they consider
Orthaheel Flip Flop
Sandals. While flip-flops will never be as stable as shoes, these have a
great arch support and are the best flip-flops we have found.
If you think you may have a stress fracture, or you have previously had one and want to prevent recurrence, contact us for an appointment in our convenient Seattle office.
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All pages on this website © 2005-2010
Douglas Hale, DPM & Lawrence Huppin, DPM
Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, Seattle
The material provided on this web site is for informative purposes only.
If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
