Preventing and managing stress fractures in athletes

Abstract

Stress fractures are common overuse injuries of bone resulting from the repeated application of submaximal load. Factors that reduce bone strength or increase the load applied to bone can place an athlete at risk of developing a stress fracture. These factors include low bone density, menstrual disturbances, inadequate dietary intake and eating disorders, training errors, inadequate muscle function and biomechanical features. Identification of the at-risk athlete can allow prevention strategies to be implemented. Diagnosis of a stress fracture is generally made clinically but investigations such as bone scan, CT or MRI can be performed to confirm the diagnosis, grade the stage of the bone re..