Stress fracture in the foot: rest and keeping fit

How to use this sheet. A stress fracture is a crack from too much repeated load, and it heals when the load comes off. Wear the rigid-soled shoe or boot we advised whenever you are on your feet, use crutches if we gave you them, and walk only as much as daily life needs. If we have put you in a plaster, or told you to keep all weight off the foot, do only the lying exercises (2 to 5) until we tell you. Keep fit with exercise that does not pound the foot: the exercises here, arm and upper-body exercise done sitting down, and swimming if you can swim. Avoid: running, jumping, skipping, long walks, standing on tiptoe, and having the foot pressed or massaged, by a bone-setter or anyone else. Go back to running only after walking has been pain-free for some time and we agree, and build up slowly. Eat enough, with calcium foods such as milk and curd, and get some sunlight: 10 to 15 minutes daily, between 10 am and 2 pm.