Find out if the symptoms you’re experiencing could be trying to tell you that you have a stress fracture. A stress fracture occurs when a tiny crack in the bone of your foot or ankle develops. More often than not stress fractures come about over time due to overuse, which is why a lot of athletes experience this problem at some point during their lifetime. Are you wondering if your discomfort could actually be a stress fracture? Our Newark, DE, podiatrists, Dr. Raymond DiPretoro, Jr. and Dr. Aahba M. Suchak, are here to help you figure out if it’s time to schedule an evaluation with us. How do stress fractures happen? As we mentioned above, this is a problem that commonly plagues athletes and runners because stress fractures often arise from overuse or from performing repetitive movements. Of course, if you suddenly change the intensity or duration of a workout you may also find yourself dealing with this problem. It’s important that you are warming-up and conditioning your body properly before exercising or adopting a new workout routine. Those with other health problems such as osteoporosis or arthritis may also be prone to stress fractures in the feet and ankles. What are the symptoms of a stress fracture? Pain is the number one indicator of a stress fracture. Of course, a lot of injuries and other problems can lead to foot and ankle pain so you’ll want to visit our Newark foot doctors for a proper and comprehensive foot evaluation to determine the true source of your pain. If you have a stress fracture, pain may get worse when walking or putting weight on the foot but the pain may subside when resting. The pain may be exacerbated throughout the day depending on your activity level. There may also be some swelling present on the top portion of the foot or around the ankle (depending on the location of the stress fracture). The area may also be tender to the touch or there might be some minor bruising. If you suspect that you have a stress fracture it’s important