Broken foot - Training advice needed?

Triathlon Forum
1

Hi all,

I was hoping for a little advice as I start to come back from a foot injury. I broke my cuboid bone in my right foot in mid-February, and I’m still in an air cast until late April. I’ve never broken a bone before and it honestly feels like it’s not getting any better - some days it’s incredibly swollen & painful, other days it feels like I can run on it and there would be no problem. it’s just really inconsistent right now and I’m not positive it will feel 100 percent better in just three weeks (which will be my 2-month checkup, when I should theoretically be out of the boot).

Before breaking my foot, I was running 70-80 miles per week. Obviously, that’s reduced to zero now. I know I’m woefully out of shape, but have tried to get on the elliptical for at least an hour each day, ridden some on the stationary bike (and a couple of times on my road bike…carefully and only in perfect weather conditions) and swam a bit (though it hurts to kick so I have mostly been pulling).

I’m wondering how quickly I can get back into a full-blown tri training plan if my boot does come off the last week of April. I know I need to listen to my body, but when can I typically start following a full plan vs. doing too much too quickly? Is there some sort of common sense guideline (besides just listening to the pain), especially for run mileage, for coming back after a broken foot?

I’m afraid to sign up for any races this summer because it honestly feels like it’s not getting any better. I’d like to do my first real race (Olympic distance) in late June - is that realistic? I was originally planning for a couple halfs this year, with my A race in late August, but I am afraid that might be unrealistic at this point. I want to make sure I don’t prolong my recovery, since there’s nothing that would be worse than being in this air cast during prime tri season, so was hoping for help!

One more thing, does anyone have any exercises that simulate running/will keep me in aerobic shape, other than elliptical intervals? I’m bored to tears on it after 6 weeks.

Thank you so much!!

2

2 things: AlterG treadmill and how was your cuboid fracture diagnosed/followed?

3

Hi,

There are no AlterG treadmills around me - I checked on the website when I first broke my foot. I belong to LA Fitness (nationwide chain) which has a pool & plenty of exercise equipment, but unfortunately no anti-gravity treadmills…

I went to the podiatrist after slipping on some ice during a run. I thought my ankle was just badly sprained, so had continued to run lightly on it with it wrapped, until I couldn’t bear weight on it anymore. The fracture wasn’t visible on an X-ray but showed up on the MRI, so my podiatrist put me in the boot for 4 weeks. Had my month checkup a week ago, and he wanted me in the boot for 4 additional weeks. I have my 8-week appointment at the end of this month.

4

aqua-jogging. you are now a pool runner.

5

Cuboid fractures often don’t show well on plain film X-rays. If MRI positive for a cortical fracture of the cuboid, a non weight bearing cast is usually recommended. A walking boot in a type-A (note your original post of spinning, elliptical, etc.) isn’t the best idea unfortunately …

Best of luck.

7

Can I send you a quick note at the e-mail address listed on your profile? I actually live near Cincinnati and saw you’ve listed that as your home city in your profile. I was debating getting a second opinion at some point because from years of experience with bad feet (four foot surgeries), I feel like I should be feeling significantly better at this point.

Please let me know.

Thank you!

8

Sure thing
.