Bone stress injuries in female athletes
Meghan E. Bishop, Alessandra Ahlmen, Jessica Rosendorf, Brandon J. Erickson, Steven A. Cohen
Abstract
Abstract: Females are at a higher risk than males for bone stress injuries due to a number of unique intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. Stress injuries can lead to significant morbidity, pain, time away from sport and medical expense making proper identification and treatment of bone stress injuries important. Stress injuries to bone exist as a continuum, and occur due to cumulative micro damage in bone that happens at a greater rate than bone repair. Female athletes have multiple unique risk factors that predispose them to bone stress injuries including nutritional factors and factors specific to female bone health. Most low risk stress fractures can be managed with a period of rest and activity modification whereas surgical management may be indicated in certain high risk or recurrent stress fractures. Having an understanding of the pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of stress fractures is important for all clinicians treating female athletes.