Shoes for Recovering Stress Fracture?

Hi, I had a third metatarsal stress fracture earlier last February. It took 6 weeks in a boot to recover from it. I have started to feel some of the same symptoms again and have decided to stop playing until I am pain free. I have noticed that my foot tends to hurt more in my tennis shoes than in my work shoes, even when I am just walking around. I have been using current models of the asics gel resolution for the past 4 years or so. Has anyone ever suffered from a metatarsal stress fracture in tennis and can recommend shoes that might help better support and cushion my foot?

Thank You!

The gel resolutions come to mind because of their cushion, but it's possible that cushion in the wrong places could put more stress on your fracture by altering the biomechanics of your footstrike. I haven't personally experienced it, but a friend did and sometimes they'll recommend you put special cushions in certain areas of your shoe. I'd honestly ask your orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist for advice!

The Yonex 308 have the most shock absorption of any shoe to date as calculated by some French scientists (bar an obscur France/UK only shoe). Well, the "egg test" isn't totally rigged it seems... :lol:
In French: http://www.yonex.fr/fr/r_newsdetail.htm?ncode=135

Are your work shoes more stiff in the sole than your tennis shoes? Not talking padding, but stiffness in flex, like when you walk.
SuperfeetOranges/Greens have a very stiff insole, that might help.
It's possible you just need a stiffer footbed.
Of course, it's possible you need more padding.
Not one thing for sure, some change is needed.
May I suggest.....new shoes, Superfeet Orange, grass courts.

shoes

Really hard to say. You've been wearing the Asics GRs for four years but had the stress fracture last year. Did the fracture occur in the GRs?

It may have nothing to do with the shoe but just with the way you landed or pushed off. For preventing any kind of reinjury in any foot/leg area, I'd want something stable, supportive, and shock-absorbing. While a lot of shoes do a great job of shock absorption in the heel, I'd definitely look for something with toe protection and make sure, with whatever insole-shoe combination you're wearing, you don't feel "on your toes" all the time.

As velocity commented, it's quite possible that it's not the shoe type. Make sure you're changing your shoes every 6 months (even if they look okay on the outside), and strengthen your anterior tibialis amd calves to help you absorb the impact.

Thanks for the responses!

Yeah I don't think it was necessarily the Asics that gave me the stress fracture, but I thought that maybe some shoes would better at protecting the foot. I got some insoles and some barricades. I'll post if they work well. Thanks!

Lukhas said:

The Yonex 308 have the most shock absorption of any shoe to date as calculated by some French scientists (bar an obscur France/UK only shoe). Well, the "egg test" isn't totally rigged it seems... :lol:
In French: http://www.yonex.fr/fr/r_newsdetail.htm?ncode=135

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Best shoe by far for such a case....!

300Gkid said:

Thanks for the responses!

Yeah I don't think it was necessarily the Asics that gave me the stress fracture, but I thought that maybe some shoes would better at protecting the foot. I got some insoles and some barricades. I'll post if they work well. Thanks!

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I also think that I have a mild case of this (probably a stress fracture in my second metatarsal bone)...It happened about two months ago on my first ladder match of the indoor hard court season with new brand of shoes (Asiscs GR5). Probably just overuse and lack of support from the shoes...

I get better support in Nike CBs 4.3, although the pain still becomes stronger (again) during some tense matches...I've also started to use the best gel inserts (Dr Scholl's active) I could find and new pair of shoes etc. Might still need to see a doctor, b/c some pain is still there (also I've tried and I can't run full out 50m,the other day, indoor, on hard court)..

It's worse on some days (especially against player at my level and bellow that I don't want to lose sets to) and better on others (against better players, even if I loose sets I may not hurt as much, but at the most I can apply myself to win a TB).

A physician at a party mentioned the possibility of a stress fracture last night, especially if the pain can be pin-pointed/localized:

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Metatarsal-Fractures.htm

When the pain is on the ball of the foot (in my case the left) then it's called Metatarsalgia

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Metatarsalgia.htm

Can be just inflamation and pain...

As for the shoes the recommendations are:

• Ensuring that shoes are well fitted, low-heeled and have a wide toe area.
  
• Ensuring that you wear good, properly fitted footwear when running or doing sports with high impact on the feet.

I'm recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and I am targeting the Nike Air Court Ballistec 4.3's, coming from KSwiss Big Shot (not the new 2013 model) and Asics GR5s. From everything I have read (so far), these seem the most stable. Time, i.e. next Spring for me, will tell.

Having suffered a stress fracture in the past, I found that a supportive shoe with co compromises in the fit trumped cushioning.

srvnvly said:

I'm recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and I am targeting the Nike Air Court Ballistec 4.3's, coming from KSwiss Big Shot (not the new 2013 model) and Asics GR5s. From everything I have read (so far), these seem the most stable. Time, i.e. next Spring for me, will tell.

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Even without the potential of getting pains on the balls of your feet, the Asics GR5s don't have the same lateral stability, nor comfort/support in general as the Nike Ballistec imho...They are tall and narrow(in the toe area), etc.

Another vote here for the Yonex 308

Fintft said:

Even without the potential of getting pains on the balls of your feet, the Asics GR5s don't have the same lateral stability, nor comfort/support in general as the Nike Ballistec imho...They are tall and narrow(in the toe area), etc.

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I thought I was the only one who had this impression. They are way too narrow for my forefoot, even when going up a size. Aesthetically, they look like the offspring of running shoes and "clown shoes" on my feet.

Are the 2014 Courballistecs going to be as stable as the 2013 model? Other than Yonex (aka the non-warranty, expensive shoe), is the Lotto Raptor Ultra the next best choice?

I would also consider the Vapor Tour 9s. They are the most comfortable shoes out there, have a wide toe box, and are very supportive, downside is just durability. You should also switch out your shoes every 6 months if you play in them regularly. The midsoles tend to compress over time and the support and cushion starts to wear down.

I know my Vapor 9s only get about 4 months of use before I switch them out as I noticed they start to lose their cushioning and support.

Yonex for the win 308 or newer 254D.