Dancing With the Stars Maria Menounos Dances Through Stress Fracture

The beautiful actress and TV personality has suffered from a stress fractures in her feet. Menounos confirmed that the pain is still significant even after the incident of of April 28th, 2012, but she is determined to continue what she does best. Despite the fact that her doctors instructed her to rest the foot, she still continues with her daily activities.

Stress fractures are small cracks in your bone that are often described as an overuse injury. Stress fractures are not complete cracks of the bone, but can still be very serious and painful injuries. A stress fracture is very common for athletes – especially in the lower limbs of their bodies – as they are caused by repeated trauma to the feet. Stress fractures cause severe pain and swelling.

Below are some helpful tips to prevent your feet from acquiring a stress fracture.  They include:

• Gradually change your workout routine.Intense changes in your physical exercising puts you at an easy risk for injury. Your body needs proper time to adjust to changes in the intensity and time span of your workout.
• Wear proper shoes. Shoes should be specific to your sport or type of physical exercise. Different styles allow greater cushioning, support and shock absorption in different areas depending on the movements involved in your routine.
• Use orthotics. Orthotics can give you extra comfort and support. Custom made orthotics can also relieve pain in your feet. Orthotics can be made specific to your feet and your sport.
• Know the correct techniques. Using the proper movements within any given exercise is extremely important. Incorrect techniques can cause awkward motions that often twist or roll ankles or repeated stress to your ankles and feet.
• Do not over-train. If you experience aches and pains from your workout then realize that your body is trying to tell you to slow down. You should decrease your routine and allow your body time to rest.
• Remember to stretch. Stretching exercises are very important in preventing injury. You should stretch your muscles before and after every workout. Also, don’t forget to stretch your ankles and feet to keep muscles from stiffening.

If you experience a stress fracture it’s important to give your injury the proper time to heal.  Typically the proper amount of time to give your injury a rest ranges from 8-10 weeks. You should allow your injured foot to rest and apply ice to reduce swelling and relieve pain.