If the shoe fits… should you just wear it? A complete calcaneal stress fracture in a female recreational runner

Shoe choice by runners may follow trends related to purported generalised benefits rather than following an individual riskbenefit analysis. The benefits and risks related to minimalist footwear for running has been a much debated topic. The authors report a case of a complete calcaneal stress fracture in an otherwise healthy female recreational runner in the first three weeks following her conversion from a traditional cushioned running shoe to a minimalist type of running shoe. Clinicians should be aware of the potential added bone stress with reduced cushioning and the potential risks in transitioning to new footwear.