Common foot & ankle concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, standing, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries — acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn’t resolve
Foot & Ankle · Conditions A–Z
Navicular Stress Fracture midfoot stress injury
A navicular stress fracture is a small crack in the navicular, a key bone in the arch of the midfoot, caused by repetitive overload rather than a single injury. Because it can be hard to spot and slow to heal, our foot and ankle specialists offer same-day or next-week evaluations with on-site imaging across eight LA-area offices.
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Surgical and non-surgical options at LAOSS.
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What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles–area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- A navicular stress fracture is a high-risk overuse crack in a central arch bone that is easy to miss and prone to slow healing.
- Pain is often vague, felt across the top of the midfoot or arch, and tends to worsen with running, jumping, and impact.
- Plain X-rays are frequently normal, so we often confirm the diagnosis with CT or MRI before starting treatment.
- Most non-displaced fractures heal with strict non-weightbearing immobilization; surgery is reserved for displaced, complete, or non-healing fractures.
Overview
What is navicular stress fracture?
A navicular stress fracture is a hairline crack in the tarsal navicular, a small but important bone that sits at the top of your arch and helps transfer load through the midfoot. Unlike a sudden break from a fall, it builds up over time from repetitive impact, which is why it is most common in runners, sprinters, jumpers, and dancers. The central part of the navicular has a relatively poor blood supply, so this is considered a high-risk stress fracture that needs to be taken seriously and treated promptly.
The tricky part is that the pain is often vague and poorly located, and standard X-rays frequently look normal early on. That combination leads to a lot of missed or delayed diagnoses. At LAOSS, our foot and ankle specialists know exactly what to look for and have on-site imaging to confirm it quickly.
The good news: caught early, most non-displaced navicular stress fractures heal well with a focused conservative-first plan built around protected rest. Below, we walk through the symptoms and causes we see most often, how we diagnose this fracture accurately, and the full range of treatment options from immobilization through surgery.
Patient education
Watch: Navicular Stress Fracture
This condition is an injury to the navicular, one of the tarsal bones of the midfoot. This type of injury is common in athletes, particularly those who participate in high-impact sports that require jumping, sprinting and sudden directional changes. Track and field athletes are particularly susceptible.
Animations licensed from ViewMedica · Swarm Interactive
Anatomy of the foot & ankle — tibia, talus, calcaneus, metatarsals, and the plantar fascia.
Anatomy
Inside the foot & ankle.
The foot and ankle have 26 bones, more than 30 joints, and over 100 ligaments and tendons. The plantar fascia spans the bottom of the foot, the Achilles tendon anchors the calf to the heel, and the ankle is a hinge that handles every step you take. Most foot and ankle problems trace back to overload, alignment, or footwear that doesn’t match the way your foot is built.
Self-orient
When navicular stress fracture shows up.
Symptoms
Common symptoms
- Vague, aching pain across the top of the midfoot or arch
- Pain that worsens with running, jumping, or push-off and eases with rest
- Tenderness when pressing on the top of the navicular (the "N spot")
- Mild swelling over the midfoot in some patients
- Cramping or fatigue in the arch during activity
- Pain that returns quickly once you try to resume sport
Causes
Common causes
- Repetitive impact from running, sprinting, jumping, or dancing
- A rapid increase in training volume, mileage, or intensity
- High-arched or stiff feet that concentrate load on the midfoot
- Hard training surfaces or worn-out, unsupportive footwear
- Low bone density, vitamin D deficiency, or relative energy deficiency (RED-S)
- Previous stress fractures or inadequate recovery between sessions
Diagnostics
How we diagnose navicular stress fracture
You want answers, fast — and we’re built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here’s what your initial visit for navicular stress fracture typically looks like:
- Detailed history — when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you’ve already tried
- Focused exam of the foot & ankle — range of motion, stability, strength, specific provocation tests
- On-site imaging at most offices: X-ray for bone, ultrasound or MRI when soft-tissue detail is needed
- A written plan with options ranging from conservative care to surgical procedures, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation with a trusted Greater Los Angeles orthopedic expert today.
Treatment options
How we treat navicular stress fracture at LAOSS
Once we’ve confirmed the diagnosis, the next step is matching the right treatment to your situation. We start with the least-invasive option that fits — and escalate only when it doesn’t.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Non-surgical options designed to relieve pain, restore movement, and avoid the OR when possible.
- Strict non-weightbearing immobilization in a cast or boot, often for about six to eight weeks
- Activity rest with a gradual, supervised return to weightbearing once healing is confirmed
- Follow-up imaging to verify the fracture is uniting before progressing
- Bone-health workup and correction of vitamin D, nutrition, or RED-S risk factors
- Physical therapy to rebuild strength and mechanics after immobilization
- Training-load and footwear adjustments to prevent recurrence
Surgical care
When neededSurgical options when needed
Procedures performed by board-certified foot & ankle surgeons when conservative care isn’t enough.
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with screw fixation for displaced or complete fractures
- Bone grafting to support healing in sclerotic or non-healing (nonunion) fractures
- Surgical fixation considered earlier for competitive athletes to reduce nonunion risk and healing delay
- Structured, staged return-to-sport rehabilitation after the fracture has healed
Surgeon expertise
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Foot & Ankle care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our foot & ankle specialists move stepwise — start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Candidacy
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist is the next step.
You may be
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a foot & ankle specialist.
- You have nagging top-of-the-arch or midfoot pain that worsens with running or jumping
- Your pain eases with rest but comes right back when you return to impact activity
- You recently increased your training mileage, intensity, or added hard-surface workouts
- You have tenderness over the top of the navicular and want it imaged properly
- You had a normal X-ray but the pain has not resolved and limits your activity
Evaluation
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history — onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, an open wound or exposed bone, foot or ankle deformity after trauma, loss of sensation, or any sign of infection (fever, spreading redness, or swelling).
Recovery
Your foot & ankle recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line — but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
01Days 0–14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the foot & ankle, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don’t guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Gentle range-of-motion within safe limits
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
02Weeks 2–8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the foot & ankle.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- Sport- or job-specific movement re-training
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
03Months 2+
Long-term care
Once function is restored, the focus shifts to keeping you there — and catching any recurrence early.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient — informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Specific
Foot & Ankle-specific considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the foot & ankle. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Incomplete pain relief in a small percentage of cases
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Your care team
Meet our foot & ankle doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our foot & ankle specialists combine advanced surgical expertise with a patient-first approach. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to reconstruction, fracture care, and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. Trusted across Los Angeles, our team is dedicated to restoring mobility, relieving pain, and helping you return to the activities you love.
Specialists
Meet your foot & ankle specialists.
4 providers
About this care
Reliable navicular stress fracture care starts here
A navicular stress fracture is not something to push through, and it is not a diagnosis you want guessed at. Because this fracture is easy to miss and slow to heal, getting an accurate answer early genuinely changes how quickly and how completely you recover. At LAOSS, our board-certified foot and ankle specialists evaluate midfoot pain every day and have the on-site imaging to confirm what is really going on.
With same-day or next-week appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices, you will not wait weeks for answers while the problem worsens. From protected healing through a safe return to your sport, you will get a clear, coordinated plan and direct access to the same specialist throughout your recovery.
Patient reviews
What patients say about us.
★★★★★4.97,500+ Google reviews
Wonderful staff. The MA was so kind to my elderly mom and the doctor explained everything twice so she’d remember. Felt like we were treated like family.
Patricia Aguilar
Cerritos, CA · 6 January 2025
FAQ
Common navicular stress fracture questions
- Navicular stress fractures are frequently invisible on plain X-rays, especially early on. We often confirm the diagnosis with CT, which best shows the fracture line, or MRI, which can detect a stress reaction before a crack appears. A normal X-ray does not rule it out.
- For most non-displaced navicular stress fractures, the most reliable treatment is strict non-weightbearing in a cast or boot, commonly for about six to eight weeks. We confirm healing with follow-up imaging before letting you bear weight and gradually return to activity.
- Most non-displaced fractures heal with protected, non-weightbearing rest. Surgery, usually screw fixation, is reserved for displaced or complete fractures, those that fail to heal, and is sometimes chosen earlier for competitive athletes to lower the risk of nonunion.
- Return to sport depends on confirmed healing, not the calendar, so we use imaging and a staged progression rather than a fixed date. Rushing back is the most common reason this fracture recurs, so we rebuild your loading gradually under supervision.
Ready when you are
Don’t wait on pain.
Book a visit with a foot & ankle specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles–area offices.
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