Stress Fractures Caused by Physical Exercise

Abstract

A series of 142 stress fractures caused by sporting activities and physical exercise is presented. 121 fractures occurred in athletes and 21 in non-competitive sportsmen. Distance runners presented with 68 fractures, skiers 12, sprinters 10, orienteering runners 9, vaulters 3, and football-players 3 fractures. Athletes engaged in other events had fewer stress fractures. 76 fractures occurred in the tibia, 26 in the metatarsal bones, 20 in the fibula, 5 in the femoral neck, 4 in the femoral shaft, and 2 in the metacarpal bones, lower pubic arch and sesamoid bones of the first MTP-joint. There was one fracture of each of the following: the humeral shaft, the ulna, the vertebral arch of L 5, the tarsal navicular and the proximal phalanx of the fifth toe. The treatment was generally a pause in training for 4–6 weeks, on the average. Running caused most of the stress fractures; the rest followed jumping exercises. The athletes mostly developed stress fractures during a period of alteration from one training sesaion to another or during the preparation period close to the competition season. Joggers usually developed stress fractures 2–4 months after the beginning of regular training.