Why doctors prescribe 4 to 6 weeks in a fracture boot for stress fractures in runners

Metatarsal stress fractures are one of the most common injuries in runners. Unfortunately for runners, 4 weeks to 6 weeks in a fracture walking it boot is the common recommendation from doctors.  

Part of the reason you get the boot for 4-6 weeks, is that you didn’t give your doctor enough information to recommend anything else. The doctor wants you to heal. The way you tell your stress fracture fracture story leaves the doctor imaging the worst possible scenario and you get the worst possible treatment as a result.  

To heal a stress fracture you need to stop stressing the bone. You need to stop causing damage. It is that simple. 

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast we're talking about why doctors prescribe 4-6 weeks in a fracture boot for stress fractures in runners.