Stress Fractures in Female Athletes

written by Hannah S.

    A stress fracture is a common injury seen most often in athletes and is also known as a hairline fracture because it looks like a small crack in the bone . It is seen most commonly athletes who increase their physical activity considerably in a short amount of time. This fracture is unlike other fractures in that it is caused by repetitive strain and force over a long period of time rather than by one big fall or impact. Stress fractures can happen in any part of the body but usually happen in the lower regions (feet, ankle, shin, etc.) because the lower extremities support the weight of the body and are more prone to strain in this way. 
    Stress fractures have two main causes. One cause is repeated and excessive bone strain, which cause microdamage that builds up faster than the needed repair of the damaged bone materials. The first cause is associated with otherwise healthy athletes or people like the military recruits who are exerting themselves severely. The other cause is a lower response to otherwise normal strain on the cellular level where bone repair and remodeling is happening. This cause is associated with individuals struggling with bone problems such as osteoporosis.
    Stress fractures are especially common in female athletes. There were 2.4 million high school girls competing in sports in 1997, an 800% increase over 1971 and the risk of stress fractures in female recruits in the US military is up to 10 times higher than men undergoing the same training program.    The higher risk for women is due to in part that they have less muscle mass, and thus have less to absorb shock. The thinner width of female bones also absorbs shock less.
    There are many different factors that can increase the likelihood of stress fractures in women. Menstrual irregularities and hormonal influences can increase the likelihood of these fractures. Low calcium levels and eating disorders also contribute to stress fractures. More generally, a sudden change in intensity or frequency of training can affect risk of stress fractures and training in athletic shoes older than six months can also be a factor in increasing the risk for stress fractures. To be at minimum risk, the female athlete should make sure she has all the needed nutrients, trains regularly without exerting herself too much, and has all the gear necessary to exercise or practice safely.

Citations
  “Stress Fracture” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_fracture#cite_note-0
  “Stress Fractures in Female Athletes” Hoch, Anne Zenni. Health Link: Medical College of Wisconsin. 2001. http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/979332792.html