Quick guide
This page provides general health information and does not diagnose an individual condition. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms should be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional.
This page provides general health information and does not diagnose an individual condition. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms should be assessed by an appropriately qualified health professional.
Understanding the problem
If repetitive stress increases faster than bone can remodel and recover, a bone stress injury can develop on a spectrum from stress reaction to visible stress fracture.
Contributing factors
- Sudden increase in running, marching, jumping or training volume
- Insufficient recovery between impact sessions
- Changes in surface or footwear
- Low energy availability or inadequate nutrition
- Reduced bone density or other medical risk factors
- Previous bone stress injury
What can you do?
- Stop or substantially reduce impact activity that provokes focal bone pain until assessed.
- Use low-impact exercise only if comfortable and appropriate.
- Do not use pain relief simply to continue running through suspected bone pain.
- Return to impact gradually after healing and correction of contributing factors.
When not to wait
Seek prompt assessment for focal bone pain that worsens with impact, pain during normal walking, swelling, pain at rest or night, or progressively worsening symptoms despite reduced training.
Seek prompt assessment for focal bone pain that worsens with impact, pain during normal walking, swelling, pain at rest or night, or progressively worsening symptoms despite reduced training.
The Footpath Health approach
Footpath Health is designed to help you move from a symptom or question toward an appropriate next step without pretending that an online article can make an individual diagnosis. Sometimes that next step is self-management; sometimes it is podiatry, physiotherapy or GP assessment; and sometimes imaging or specialist care is appropriate.
Still not sure what the right next step is?
Tell Footpath Health what is bothering you and we can help guide you towards the most appropriate type of healthcare professional.
Start the Footpath Health assessment →