Doc On The Run Podcast

What is plastic deformation of a metatarsal stress fracture in a runner?

Metatarsal stress fractures are something I talk about a lot because they are one of the most common reasons a runner has to stop running. 

One of the reasons you would stop running is that you do not want something called "plastic deformation" of the healing metatarsal. 

What is plastic deformation of a metatarsal stress fracture in a runner?

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

 

Only 3 reasons for stress fracture re-injury

If you get an aching pain in your foot when you are running, and it turns out it is a metatarsal stress fracture, you are not alone. Stress fractures are extremely common. 

But the last thing that you need is to stop running, take all this time off, get it to heal, and then get re-injured when you start running again. 

There really are only three reasons that I see in runners when they get re-injured after they have fully recovered from a metatarsal stress fracture. 

Are there really only three reasons for stress fracture re-injury? 

Well, yes, and that is what we are talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

5 causes of foot pain after metatarsal stress fracture healed

One of the most common causes of foot pain in runners is a metatarsal stress fracture. 

Most of the runners who get a metatarsal stress fracture, complain of an aching pain in the middle, on top of the foot. 

This episode is going to explain some of the reasons a runner may have pain after a metatarsal stress fracture has “healed” and you are starting to run again. 

What are five causes of foot pain after a metatarsal stress fracture heals? 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

Ultra-injury secret weapons from Isobel Ross 7th woman finisher at North Face 100

Imagine you are months into training for an ultra-marathon. You are entering your peak build phase. You feel strong. You're excited about your upcoming race and the possibility of a new PR.

 

Then you get an aching pain in your foot and you're told you have a stress fracture. 

 

If you found yourself in that exact situation, and you had to choose one, which would you pick:

 

1. a doctor who understands running injury treatment 

2. a coach who understands training with injuries

 

My personal opinion is that having a coach who understands training through a running injury is actually way more important than having a doctor who understands running injury treatment. 

 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we are talking with Isobel and Ron of Peak Endurance Coaching about mindset, training shifts and what ultra-coaching has taught them about avoiding re-injury when training for ultras.

Fibular Stress fracture and need to run in 25 days

Today's episode comes from a comment posted on one of the videos on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel.

This was on the video that this person watched. It was called, “Can I still run after I heal a fibular stress fracture?” and in that video, I was trying to talk about how you can decide basically whether or not you can run after you have had a fibular stress fracture. 

He said:

“Hello, I got a fibular bone crack while running and I have an army physical in 25 days. Please tell me the solution due to which I will be able to give my physical fitness test.”

I got a fibular stress fracture, and I have to run in 25 days. What should I do? 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

 

53 year-old runner with plantar plate sprain advice?

Today's episode actually comes from a comment posted on a video on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel. That specific video was entitled "Best Exercise for Plantar Plate Sprain in Runners."

“Hi Doc, awesome help in all these plantar plate videos. I have been told by my podiatrist that I have a grade one possible border lane, grade two sprain/tear, and I am struggling to get it to heal while I keep running.”

What should a 53-year-old runner with a plantar plate sprain do? 

That's what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Stopped sports for 2 months and got 2 more stress fractures

Today's episode comes from a comment posted on a video on the Doc On The Run YouTube channel.

He posted a comment, and he said:

“This happened to me, I got a stress fracture on my right foot in the third metatarsal. I stopped all sports for two months and somehow ended up with two more stress fractures.”

Today on the Doc on the Run podcast, we're talking about somebody who stopped sports for two months and got two more stress fractures. 

Can a tibial stress fracture still hurt after 11 months?

Tibial stress fractures can be serious, and seriously frustrating if you don't treat them appropriately and aggressively.

Today's episode from a question on one of the Doc On The Run YouTube videos.  As you can guess from his question, I am sure Simon must be frustrated. 

He asked:

Can a tibial stress fracture still hurt after 11 months?

Well, that is a great question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.

3 Steps to run with a stress fracture

There really are three steps that I figured out that you need to do if you have a stress fracture but need to start running.

 

Runners call me or ask questions about whether they can run with a "grade 2" or a "grade 3" stress fracture, but many times they do not even understand what that means. 

 

Truth is, the runner has not actually figured out how bad the stress fracture is, right now.

 

What are the three steps you need to take if you want to start running with a stress fracture? 

 

Well, that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast. 

Should I stop using the metatarsal offloading pad as I start running after stress fracture?

If you have a second metatarsal stress fracture, and you want to stop stressing the second metatarsal, so it can heal faster, you must take stress off that bone. 

If you apply more pressure to all metatarsals (except the second), it will heal faster. 

One of the runners who signed up for the metatarsal stress fracture course for runners was doing better and had starting to run. 

He asked me a question I had just not thought of before. 

He asked:

Should I stop using the metatarsal offloading pads after I start running again and my stress fracture is healing? 

Well, that is a great question and that is what we're talking about today on the Doc On The Run Podcast.