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Stress Fracture related to overuse injuries are common among teen athletes

HealthDay (2/15, Mozes) reported, "Stress fractures linked to overuse may be more common than thought among high school athletes, especially among those who participate in running-related sports," according to findings that were scheduled to be presented on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in San Diego, California. "Between 2007 and 2010," the researchers tracked the "frequency and nature of stress fractures among student athletes enrolled at 57 participating high schools." Athletic trainers at each school were "asked to fill out information forms outlining each young athlete's sport history, skill level, training intensity, dietary routine and fracture details."

According to WebMD (2/15, Doheny), "230 stress fractures were reported in 189 athletes, affecting 115 girls (61%) and 74 boys (39%)." The bones most often fractured were: "Tibia (shin bone): 48%; Long bones in the forefoot: 19%; Spine: 6%; Pelvis: 6%; Hindfoot: 4%" and "Femur (thigh bone): 4%." Males were most likely to "get fractures from track, football, and cross country" and females, from "track and cross country."