How ankle stiffness can lead to another stress fractures in a runner

Let's say you're out on a run and you start feeling some aching pain in your foot. The next day you wake up, it really hurts when you step out of bed.    You go see a doctor and you're told you have a stress fracture. 

Being told you have a stress fracture is a real bummer because the doctor will probably tell you it will take about six weeks to heal. Then things get worse...

You are told you need to wear a fracture walking boot for about four to six weeks, and of course, you can't run during that time.    After you wallow in tears, you decide to be a "good patient." You go with the plan.

You sit around in the boot.

You don't do anything. 

You don't take the boot off. 

You don't run.

You don't exercise. 

And a month or two later...you finally get clearance to run!

But when you first go for your run, everything feels super stiff! Your running form is terrible. You feel really slow. But more than anything else, you really notice how super stiff everything feels around the ankle.

Today on the Doc On The Run Podcast, we're talking about how ankle stiffness can lead to another stress fracture in a recovering runner.