41-year-old Minnesota Viking quarterback, Brett Favre, suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle on October 24. Favre came into the season with an ailing left ankle and now his future with the Vikings seems uncertain. A stress fracture is a small crack in the bone. Stress fractures often develop from overuse, such as from high-impact sports. Most stress fractures occur in the weight-bearing bones of the foot and lower leg. Favre received his stress fracture from the weight of a defender coming down on top of him, jamming the joint.
Favre is currently resting his ankle in a walking boot in the hope that it will alleviate some discomfort. There may be cracks or loading fractures in Favre's ankle that are due, in part, to the already weakened condition of the bone in the area. A podiatrist would evaluate the stress fracture with an X-ray; however, this will not reveal a stress fracture for several weeks. Favre would be taking a big chance if he decided to play against the New England Patriots on Halloween night. If he plays, the bone might weaken and become susceptible to fracture. A foot specialist would tell you that the best treatment for a stress fracture is rest. Taking a break from the routine and doing some low impact exercise for a few weeks can help the bone heal. Also, a foot specialist might offer special shoes to immobilize your feet. If rest isn't taken, chronic problems such as larger and more persistent stress fractures can develop like Favre suffered. If you suffer from heel or arch pain, please come see a podiatrist. A podiatrist will relieve that pain and make it possible for you to return to your normal life as quick as possible.
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