Foot Fractures May Be an Early Indication of Osteoporosis

When you think of osteoporosis or its precursor osteopenia, you might think of it as a problem for your spine or ribs or hips, but osteoporosis can also affect your feet. In fact, an unexplained foot fracture, or one that occurs after a seemingly minor fall, may be an early indication that you have osteoporosis.

As you age, your bones become less dense than they once were. They are thinner and can break more easily than they did when you were younger. In the feet, fractures can result from a trauma such as a fall or a stubbed toe. Foot fractures can also occur as stress fractures, hairline fractures that happen when a particular area is subject to repeated slight injury over a long period of time. Because their bones have less integrity, people with osteoporosis are at particular risk of stress fractures to the feet.

The best thing you can do to reduce your risk of osteoporosis is to take in plenty of calcium and vitamin D through your diet. Talk to your doctor about how much of each is right for you.

Good sources of calcium include:

• low fat dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt

• green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale

• fish that is eaten with the bones intact, such as sardines or anchovies

Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D, so get outside! If winter makes that a challenge, be sure to eat more fatty fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel. Look for foods at the grocery store that are commonly fortified with vitamin D such as milk and orange juice.

If you suspect that you have fractured a bone in your foot, or if you have any other concerns about the health and well-being of your feet, ankles, or lower legs, the first thing to do is to see your podiatrist as soon as possible.

Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.