Fact Checked
A broken foot can occur in both children and adults. The feet are susceptible to slipping and twisting that can result to minor injuries or even fractures.
Causes of a broken foot
- Heels become fractured when falling or jumping from a height and landing on the feet.
- Toes are broken when accidently kicking something hard.
- Bones break if they are sprained and twisted.
- Bones can break due to an accident, trauma and immediate injury
- Repeated stress on the bones called stress fracture are quite common among runners, dancers, gymnasts and soldiers.
Symptoms
- Pain and swelling
- Severe pain which causes difficulty in walking. If the injury only involves broken toes, it causes less pain and the affected person is still able to walk.
- Redness and bruising of the foot
- Deformity of the toes
- Incapable of bearing weight on the affected foot.
Seek medical help if the foot becomes bluish, numb or cold or if there is severe pain, foot is deformed, misshapen and pointing to a wrong direction and there is an open wound near the broken bone.
Treatment
- Get enough rest especially the affected area for 3-4 weeks for fast healing of the condition. Avoid activities that cause foot pain.
- Wear a splint to prevent unnecessary movement of the broken foot. Another alternative is to wrap the broken foot with a pillow and secured using a bandage. Avoid wrapping it too tightly to prevent any disruption with the circulation in the area.
- Elevate the broken foot above the level of the heart. When lying down, elevate the foot on several pillows to elevate the leg.
- Apply an ice pack on the affected for at least 20 minutes to lessen the swelling. Avoid applying ice directly on the skin to prevent frostbite that can worsen the condition. Wrap the pack with a towel before applying on the area.
- Wear appropriate footwear that have sufficient room for the toes and avoid wearing shoes that squeezes the toes. Wearing wider shoes for at least 2-4 weeks to allow the broken foot to heal.
Disclaimer
The material posted on this page for a broken foot is for learning purposes only. If you want to learn to recognize and manage broken bones or fractures including a broken foot, register for a first aid course with a training provider near you.