Prevention

These basic sports and safety tips may help prevent a broken foot:

• Wear proper shoes. Use hiking shoes on rough terrain. Wear steel-toed boots in your work environment if necessary. Choose appropriate athletic shoes for your sport.
• Replace athletic shoes regularly. Discard sneakers as soon as the tread or heel wears out or if the shoes are wearing unevenly. If you're a runner, replace your sneakers every 300 to 400 miles.
• Start slowly. That applies to a new fitness program and each individual workout.
• Cross-train. Alternating activities can prevent stress fractures. Rotate running with swimming or biking.
• Build bone strength. Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, yogurt and cheese, really can do your body good. Taking vitamin D supplements also can help.
• Use night lights. Many broken toes are the result of walking in the dark.
• Declutter your house. Keeping clutter off the floor can help you to avoid trips and falls.