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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffFactors that may increase your risk of stress fractures include:
- Certain sports. Stress fractures are more common in people who participate in sports such as track and field, basketball, tennis or gymnastics.
- Increased activity. Stress fractures often occur in people who suddenly shift from a sedentary lifestyle to an active training regimen — such as a military recruit subjected to intense marching exercises or an athlete who rapidly increases the intensity, duration or frequency of training sessions.
- Sex. Women who have abnormal or absent menstrual periods are at higher risk of developing stress fractures.
- Foot problems. People who have flat feet or high, rigid arches are more likely to develop stress fractures.
- Weakened bones. Conditions such as osteoporosis can weaken your bones and make it easier for stress fractures to occur.
References
- Choi L. Stress fractures. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..10014-4--s0160&isbn=978-1-4160-3143-7&sid=1047023574&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..10014-4--s0160&uniqId=217064656-4#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..10014-4--s0160. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- Stress fractures. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. http://www.aofas.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=54. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- deWeber K. Overview of stress fractures. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- Dugan S. Stress fractures. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/217064656-5/1047023574/1678/73.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50072-9_1152. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- Glossary of orthopaedic diagnostic tests. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00272. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
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