Review article

STRESS FRACTURES IN ACTIVE AND RECREATIONAL ATHLETES

Ivan Bojanić
Alan Ivković
Tomislav Smoljanović
Marko Pećina

Abstract

Stress fractures, which are classified among overuse injuries of bone, may be defined as partial or complete bone fracture that results from repeated application of stress of less strength than the stress required to fracture bone in a single loading. They are common problem in sports medicine comprising between 1.1 to 10% of all athletic injuries. Causes are many, but training errors, i.e. „too soon, too much“, are the most frequently encountered cause of stress fractures, causing stress fractures in as many as 22 to 75% cases. To diagnose a stress fracture, it is essential to have the possibility of such a condition constantly in mind. Clinical examination represents basic diagnostic procedure followed later on by other diagnostic methods: radiography, scintigraphy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. For the most of stress fractures sufficient treatment is rest from offending athletic activity during 4 to 6 weeks leading to disappearance of pain and gradual return to sport activities. Stress fractures in some localizations, femoral neck (tension side), anterior cortex of the tibia, tarsal navicular, fifth metatarsal, etc., have higher number of complications during the treatment and require additional treatment, and in some cases even surgical intervention is appropriate. Finally, as in the most of the injuries belonging to the overuse group, prevention is the key word.

Keywords

stress fracture; bone; origin causes; diagnosis; treatment; athletes

Hrčak ID:

43429

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/43429

Publication date:

30.6.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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