# 19: Navicular Stress Fractures in Runners: Why Foot Pain Lingers and What You Might be Missing Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interdisciplinary-case-miles-7475175/19-navicular-stress-fractures-in-runners-why-foot-pain-lingers-and-what-you-might-be-missing Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interdisciplinary-case-miles-7475175/19-navicular-stress-fractures-in-runners-why-foot-pain-lingers-and-what-you-might-be-missing.md Podcast: [Interdisciplinary Case Miles](https://stenobird.com/podcast/interdisciplinary-case-miles-7475175) Published: 2026-05-15T11:00:01+00:00 Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/19-navicular-stress-fractures-in-runners-why-foot-pain-lingers-and-what-you-might-be-missing--71239201 Audio file: https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71239201/idcm19_mp3.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/interdisciplinary-case-miles-7475175/episodes/19-navicular-stress-fractures-in-runners-why-foot-pain-lingers-and-what-you-might-be-missing Duration seconds: 1289 ## Resource Foot pain that lingers, comes and goes, or never fully heals can signal something more serious especially in runners. Episode 19 of Interdisciplinary Case Miles centers on a high school track athlete dealing with a navicular bone stress injury that persisted for nearly a year. This type of injury is one of the most challenging in running due to limited blood supply, high biomechanical demand, and the need for strict management early on. This case highlights how bone stress injuries develop from a combination of training load, biomechanics, and nutrition especially low energy availability in adolescent athletes. It also addresses why navicular injuries require careful progression, non-weight bearing phases, and long-term follow-up to avoid delayed healing or recurrence. You’ll hear how foot mechanics, posterior tibial function, and arch control influence stress at the navicular, along with how strength, mobility, and confidence all play a role in returning to sport. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of fueling, growth demands, and the unique challenges faced by youth and first-generation athletes navigating high training loads. Whether you’re a runner dealing with stubborn foot pain, a parent supporting a young athlete, or training in high-impact environments like track, trail, or jumping sports, this episode provides clear direction on preventing and managing navicular stress injuries. 00:00 – Intro to Interdisciplinary Case Miles Overview of the podcast and today’s complex case. 01:05 – Case Overview: High School Athlete with Persistent Foot Pain Track athlete with a year-long navicular bone stress injury. 03:10 – What Is the Navicular Bone & Why It Matters Location, function, and role as the “keystone” of the arch. 06:00 – Why Navicular Stress Injur… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/interdisciplinary-case-miles-7475175/episodes/19-navicular-stress-fractures-in-runners-why-foot-pain-lingers-and-what-you-might-be-missing/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/interdisciplinary-case-miles-7475175/19-navicular-stress-fractures-in-runners-why-foot-pain-lingers-and-what-you-might-be-missing.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.