Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in Athletes
Introduction Stress fractures can affect up to 10% of athletes, with amateurs who exhibit high levels of ambition being particularly at risk. This vulnerability is primarily due to their limited understanding of training principles and the physiological mechanisms of the body. Stress fractures r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60307 |
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| author | Aleksandra Minda Barbara Anna Zapalska Antonina Teresa Witkowska Julia Piotrowska Aleksandra Łubińska-Kowalska Adrianna Domańska Adrianna Witkowska Monika Wendland Krzysztof Julian Długosz Justyna Janikowska |
| author_facet | Aleksandra Minda Barbara Anna Zapalska Antonina Teresa Witkowska Julia Piotrowska Aleksandra Łubińska-Kowalska Adrianna Domańska Adrianna Witkowska Monika Wendland Krzysztof Julian Długosz Justyna Janikowska |
| author_sort | Aleksandra Minda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Stress fractures can affect up to 10% of athletes, with amateurs who exhibit high levels of ambition being particularly at risk. This vulnerability is primarily due to their limited understanding of training principles and the physiological mechanisms of the body. Stress fractures result from prolonged, repetitive overload, which leads to the weakening of bone tissue and, consequently, bone fracture.
Aim of the study
The aim of this review article is to present the current state of knowledge regarding the risk factors for stress fractures in athletes.
Materials and Methods
This review is based on a literature search conducted on PubMed. The following keywords were used: stress fractures, risk factors, athletes
Conclusions
Stress fractures primarily result from excessive bone loading that exceeds the bone's ability to repair microdamage caused by daily activities. The mechanism of their formation is complex and related to an insufficient bone response to increased biomechanical demands. Although the causes can be diverse, several key factors are typically associated with the occurrence of these injuries. These include: improper type and intensity of training, female gender, low bone mineral density, nutritional deficiencies, prior stress fractures, and high and low BMI.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-41c968ae3a894ce5ac58be3e43a6d6f8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-41c968ae3a894ce5ac58be3e43a6d6f82025-08-20T03:53:18ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-05-014110.12775/QS.2025.41.60307Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in AthletesAleksandra Minda0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8862-712XBarbara Anna Zapalska1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6417-877XAntonina Teresa Witkowska2https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9954-1462Julia Piotrowska3https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3261-018XAleksandra Łubińska-Kowalska4https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2699-5965Adrianna Domańska5https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2720-2641Adrianna Witkowska6https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7314-8045Monika Wendland7https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6894-8846Krzysztof Julian Długosz8https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8134-6115Justyna Janikowska9https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8277-0855The Infant Jesus Clinical Hospital, Williama Heerleina Lindleya 4, 02-005. Warsaw, PolandIndependent Public Central Clinical Hospital of University Clinical Centre of Medical University of Warsaw ul. Banacha 1A, 02-097 WarszawaPraga Hospital of the Transfiguration of the Lord Aleja Solidarności 67, 03-401 WarsawUniversity of Warmia and Mazury, Medical Department Aleja Warszawska 30, 11-082 OlsztynUniversity of Warmia and Mazury, Medical Department Aleja Warszawska 30, 11-082 OlsztynUniversity of Warmia and Mazury, Medical Department Aleja Warszawska 30, 11-082 OlsztynUniversity of Warmia and Mazury, Medical Department Aleja Warszawska 30, 11-082 OlsztynMazovian "Bródnowski" Hospital ul. Ludwika Kondratowicza 8, 03-242 WarszawaTeaching Hospital of the University of Warmia and Mazury Aleja Warszawska 30, 10-082 OlsztynNational Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Warsaw ul. Wołoska 137, 02-507 Warszawa, Poland Introduction Stress fractures can affect up to 10% of athletes, with amateurs who exhibit high levels of ambition being particularly at risk. This vulnerability is primarily due to their limited understanding of training principles and the physiological mechanisms of the body. Stress fractures result from prolonged, repetitive overload, which leads to the weakening of bone tissue and, consequently, bone fracture. Aim of the study The aim of this review article is to present the current state of knowledge regarding the risk factors for stress fractures in athletes. Materials and Methods This review is based on a literature search conducted on PubMed. The following keywords were used: stress fractures, risk factors, athletes Conclusions Stress fractures primarily result from excessive bone loading that exceeds the bone's ability to repair microdamage caused by daily activities. The mechanism of their formation is complex and related to an insufficient bone response to increased biomechanical demands. Although the causes can be diverse, several key factors are typically associated with the occurrence of these injuries. These include: improper type and intensity of training, female gender, low bone mineral density, nutritional deficiencies, prior stress fractures, and high and low BMI. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60307stress fracturesrisk factorsathletes |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra Minda Barbara Anna Zapalska Antonina Teresa Witkowska Julia Piotrowska Aleksandra Łubińska-Kowalska Adrianna Domańska Adrianna Witkowska Monika Wendland Krzysztof Julian Długosz Justyna Janikowska Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in Athletes Quality in Sport stress fractures risk factors athletes |
| title | Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in Athletes |
| title_full | Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in Athletes |
| title_fullStr | Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in Athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in Athletes |
| title_short | Risk Factors for Stress Fractures in Athletes |
| title_sort | risk factors for stress fractures in athletes |
| topic | stress fractures risk factors athletes |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60307 |
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