cross training slows fibula healing?

Flats, I went through fib stress fracture last year at 51 years old. The only cross training I did was bicycling and floor exercises, deemphasizing anything that put too much on the lower leg. The original diagnosis was for a return to running in 3 to 3-1/2 months. I was back on the road, with my ortho's blessing in 9 weeks, about 3 weeks early.

Some cross-training doesn't hurt, but you have to face the fact that healing means rest and, hence, some loss of fitness. It took me almost 3 months to return to where I was before. Still felt minor aching in the area of the fibula, but that has disappeared in the 6 months that I've been back. Just this past weekend, I ran 22.5 miles as the last long one before Boston 3 weeks from now, and no problem at all. I feel confident that its healed.

Hope this helps.

thanks bump

First my answer, and then my history:

I experienced pain with direct pressure at the point of my fibular stress fracture (immediately above the ankle) for several weeks after I was able to easily pass the "hop test" and resumed running pain-free. So I wouldn't worry about it. (hop test = hop several times on one leg; if zero pain, then you pass)

It is important to build up very carefully once you start running again to make sure that indeed you're not experiencing and/or masking pain. My doc recommended starting with jog 3 min, walk one min; repeat three times. Do this every other day for a week. If no activity-related pain at all, then continue to build up slowly. Note that this should be done on even grass (e.g., playing field or golf course) or soft dirt, rather than a hard road surface (a track is also harder than optimal).

For me, "slowly" meant run a 30K very technical trail race one week later. So much for caution, but I've experienced no setbacks. As noted below, I didn't pass the hop test or try running until 12 weeks after the initial injury. I hope it's not this long for you, but I have a history of stress fractures, exacerbated by osteopenia, so I am careful to take the time I need to heal.

As for cross-training, I've always been told in the context of stress fractures that if it doesn't hurt, go for it; if it hurts, don't do it.

Sounds to me as though you're doing well and are ready to experiment with the hop test and, carefully, with running.

My history:

Late May last year, I came down hard on a root 20 miles into a 30-mile trail race. I ran the last 10, which in retrospect was a mistake (duh). My injury was just above the ankle, and the swelling spread under the fascia band in front of the ankle, making it nearly impossible to point my foot for a month until a PT massaged the fluid out of the way. What a guy!

Initially, I was on crutches and air cast, and I had to go about two weeks with no lower body exercise because any activity hurt. Then I aquajogged in a 50-degree lake for a week, which conveniently combined icing with aerobic activity, and at least it was outdoors in the sunshine with trees to look at. By three weeks I was able to get on my road bike, which is where I remained for through the middle of August (with the substitution of a week of swimming while on a business trip). I was putting in 200-300 mpw on the bike doing no specific workouts, since I have no training in this area. Once I started running, I was careful to not use analgesics, but always carefully assessed how I felt. I came in second (woman) in that first 30K race, won my next trail race a few weeks later (marathon distance), set a half marathon PR late November, won a 50K trail race the end of December, and matched my marathon PR a couple of days ago. So the good news is that my cycling kept me ready to go once I was able to start running again, which frankly surprised me greatly. I'd be interested in a pointer to the info regarding cross-training working antagonistically with healing.

My three stress fractures have been in my fibula, calcaneous, and femur, all on the right side, with a stress reaction of the left tibia tossed in for good measure. Other good news is that taking all last summer off seems to have completely eradicated the long-nagging tibia problem.