No running, jumping, or high-impact activity until cleared by your clinician
Swimming and cycling are acceptable for maintaining fitness
Keep activity pain-free or at most 3 out of 10 pain
Stop immediately if pain worsens
Use crutches if walking is too painful even in the boot
Nutrition and bone health
Take vitamin D supplement as prescribed
Good dietary sources: fortified milk, eggs, fatty fish
Ensure 1,000–1,200 mg of calcium daily from food or supplements
Good sources: dairy products, fortified plant milks, leafy greens
Eat enough food to support healing — do not restrict calories
Warning signs — return to emergency department immediately for
Sudden severe increase in pain or new inability to walk at all
May indicate the bone has completely broken through
New numbness or tingling in any toe
Toes that are pale, blue, or cold compared to the other foot
Severe swelling that develops rapidly
Pain that is not improving after 2–3 weeks of following instructions
Follow-up instructions
Appointment with sports medicine or orthopedic specialist within 1–2 weeks
Bring any imaging done in the emergency department
If you were told this is a Jones fracture (proximal 5th metatarsal), your follow-up is urgent — within a few days
This type of fracture may need surgery
Return precautions apply at any time — do not wait for your appointment if warning signs develop
References
Guidelines and key sources
Primary evidence sources used in this document
Schroeder JD, Trigg SD, Capo Dosal GE. Bone Stress Injuries: Diagnosis and Management. American Family Physician. 2024. PMID 39700362
Mandell JC, Khurana B, Smith SE. Stress Fractures of the Foot and Ankle, Part 2: Site-Specific Etiology, Imaging, and Treatment, and Differential Diagnosis. Skeletal Radiology. 2017. PMID 28343329
Warden SJ, Edwards WB, Willy RW. Optimal Load for Managing Low-Risk Tibial and Metatarsal Bone Stress Injuries in Runners. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 2021. PMID 33962529
Morrison WB et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria: Stress Fracture Including Sacrum Excluding Other Vertebrae. 2024 Update. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 2024
Wright AA, Hegedus EJ, Lenchik L, et al. Diagnostic Accuracy of Various Imaging Modalities for Suspected Lower Extremity Stress Fractures. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016. PMID 25805712
McCabe MP, Smyth MP, Richardson DR. Vitamin D and Stress Fractures. Foot and Ankle International. 2012. PMID 22735329
Armstrong RA et al. Low Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status in the Pathogenesis of Stress Fractures in Military Personnel. PLoS One. 2019. PMID 32208427
Moreira CA, Bilezikian JP. Stress Fractures: Concepts and Therapeutics. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2017. PMID 27732325
Sun J, Feng C, Liu Y, et al. Risk Factors of Metatarsal Stress Fracture Associated With Repetitive Sports Activities. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 2024. PMID 39175621
Presutti F, Paoletti S, Conte F, et al. Stress Fracture in Athletes: A Practical Approach. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2026. PMID 42074879
Mountjoy M et al. IOC Consensus Statement: Beyond the Female Athlete Triad — Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014. PMID 24620037
Hornberger LL, Lane MA. Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2021
Coding standards
Diagnostic coding
ICD-10 M84.37 — stress fracture, foot
M84.371: right foot; M84.372: left foot; M84.379: unspecified foot
ICD-10 S92.30 — fracture of unspecified metatarsal bone
SNOMED CT 263102004 — stress fracture of metatarsal bone
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.