Foot

What It Is

The fifth metatarsal is the long bone along the outside of your foot (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). A Jones fracture is a break across the base of this bone, in a particular area where the wider end of the bone meets its shaft (Caruso and Chin, 2025; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). It is named after Sir Robert Jones, who first described it in the early 1900s (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).

The name is sometimes wrongly used for all fractures near the base of the fifth metatarsal (sometimes known as the 5th met) (Caruso and Chin, 2025). The most common of these is actually an avulsion fracture, where a ligament pulls a small piece of bone away from the base, usually when the foot and ankle are twisted downward and inward, much like rolling your ankle (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a). Avulsion fractures normally heal well. A true Jones fracture is different and needs more careful treatment.

Jones fractures are often stress fractures. Stress fractures are small cracks in the bone. Most are caused by overuse and repetitive activity, and they are common in runners and in athletes who play running-intensive sports such as football and basketball. The most common cause is a sudden increase in physical activity (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b). Jones fractures are especially common in high-level athletes. The pain often begins on the outside of the midfoot without a single injury such as a fall (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b). To recover, rest is crucial.

Because this part of the bone has a poor blood supply, Jones fractures may take longer to heal than other foot fractures, and some do not heal at all (called nonunion) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).

Jones Fracture Anatomy

There are five metatarsals in each foot. They are the longer bones in the foot that join the toes to the rest of the foot. The 5th met is the outer of the 5 metatarsals. A Jones fracture is at the base of the 5th met, the end nearest the heel, on the outer edge of the foot.

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Jones Fracture

If you think you have a fracture, see your doctor as soon as possible. While you are waiting, apply ice to help reduce swelling and limit how much weight you put on the foot (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).

Once your medical team allows, I can help with the stiffness, weakness and strain on the rest of your body that come from weeks off the foot, working within their plan. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

1. Rest

Rest is the key to healing. Treatment without surgery usually means keeping all weight off the foot in a cast or boot for at least 6 weeks, and most people cannot return to sport until about 12 weeks after the injury (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b). When your doctor agrees, you can switch to activities that place less stress on the foot; swimming and cycling are good alternatives (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b). The main thing to remember is that you don't want to do any physical activities involving the ankle or foot until you have been able to speak with your health care provider.

2. Ice

For the first 24 to 48 hours, apply ice or something cool (such as a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a cloth or towel for 20 minutes every 2 hours. Never put ice directly on the skin, as it could cause a burn (Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, 2025). After that, I can show you how to keep using ice safely at home.

3. Protective Footwear

Once you are allowed to put weight on the foot, you might be advised to wear protective footwear to reduce the stress on it, such as a stiff-soled shoe, a wooden-soled sandal or a removable short-leg fracture shoe (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or fracture clinic

Options outside my scope

Cast or boot with no weight-bearing: the usual non-surgical treatment for a Jones fracture (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b; Caruso and Chin, 2025).
Surgery: a screw placed inside the bone (an intramedullary screw) holds it in place while it heals. Surgery may be recommended as the first treatment for very active people, such as competitive athletes or people with physically demanding jobs, or if the fracture does not heal (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a; Caruso and Chin, 2025).
Other ways to help healing: your doctor may prescribe vitamin D, a bone stimulator or other methods to help the bone heal (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Easing the other leg, hips and back while you're off the foot
Setting up crutches and gait training once you can put weight on it
Restoring ankle and foot movement and strength once your team allows
A gradual return to running and sport, following your team's timeline

Tips

Maintain a proper diet. A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D helps to build bone strength (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).
Use the proper equipment for playing sports. Old or worn-out running shoes may lose their ability to absorb shock (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).
Begin any new sports activity slowly. Gradually increase your time, speed and distance; in most cases a 10% increase per week is appropriate (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).
Strength training helps to prevent early muscle fatigue and the loss of bone density that comes with ageing (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).
If swelling or pain returns, stop the activity and go back to your medical professional for more advice and treatment (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.b).

Treatment

My Approach

A Jones fracture needs protecting while it heals, and healing can be slow because this part of the bone has a poor blood supply. Your medical team sets how long you're in a cast or boot, and when you can bear weight and return to sport. I work inside those limits, and if your fracture was treated with surgery or stops your normal daily activities, I need your team's okay before any hands-on treatment.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

While It's Protected

Easing the other leg, hips and back, and your shoulders if you're on crutches
Gentle lymphatic drainage above the cast or boot, and keeping the hip, knee and toes moving as your team allows
Help with crutches, and keeping fit with swimming or cycling once your doctor agrees

Once Your Team Allows More

Hands-on work for the calf, ankle and foot, with no heat over a metal screw, and scar work once any wound has healed
Pain-free ankle and foot exercises, and gentle joint mobilisation once your team confirms the bone has healed
Gait and balance work, then leg strength, building to gym-based lifting and a gradual return to running and sport

If your toes go numb, pale or cold, or your cast feels too tight, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: While your foot is protected, visits are usually about weekly; once you can put weight on it, most people come once or twice a week, then less often as they manage on their own. Recovery follows your medical team's plan: without surgery, expect at least 6 weeks with no weight on the foot and about 12 weeks before a return to sport, and longer if the bone is slow to heal.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Compensation Relief

Ankle & Foot Mobility

Graded Strength

Return to Sport

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

If the bone has broken through the skin (an open fracture), call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital. Open fractures are serious because bacteria can enter the wound and cause infection in the bone (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.a).

Sources

References

Caruso, B. and Chin, K. (2025) 'Classifications in brief: Lawrence and Botte classification of fifth metatarsal fractures', Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 483(7), pp. 1260–1263. doi: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000003516
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.a) Toe and forefoot fractures. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/toe-and-forefoot-fractures/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.b) Stress fractures of the foot and ankle. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/stress-fractures-of-the-foot-and-ankle/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (2025) Emergency and urgent care – foot (5th metatarsal) fracture. Available at: https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/patient-information/patient-leaflets/emergency-and-urgent-care-foot-5th-metatarsal-fracture (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooJones Fracture

What It Is

Jones Fracture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Jones Fracture

1. Rest

2. Ice

3. Protective Footwear

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or fracture clinic

Tips

My Approach

While It's Protected

Once Your Team Allows More

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooJones Fracture

What It Is

Jones Fracture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Jones Fracture

1. Rest

2. Ice

3. Protective Footwear

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or fracture clinic

Tips

My Approach

While It's Protected

Once Your Team Allows More

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

References

Related Conditions

Fifth Metatarsal Fracture

Club Foot

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Diabetic (Charcot) Foot

Book a session