A STUDY OF INTRINSIC-FACTORS IN PATIENTS WITH STRESS-FRACTURES OF THETIBIA

We aimed to study intrinsic factors in 29 consecutive patients with we ll-documented unilateral stress fractures of the tibia. Anthropometry, range of motion, isokinetic plantar flexor muscle performance, and ga it pattern were analyzed. The uninjured leg served as the control. A r eference group of 30 uninjured subjects was compared regarding gait pa ttern. Anterior stress fractures of the tibia (N = 10) were localized in the push-off/landing leg in 9/10 athletes, but were similarly distr ibuted between legs in posteromedial injuries (N = 19). Ten (30%) of t he stress fracture subjects had bilateral high foot arches, similar to those found in the reference group. There were no other systematic di fferences in anthropometry, range of motion, gait pattern, or isokinet ic plantar flexor muscle peak torque and endurance between injured and uninjured legs. No other differences were found between anterior and posteromedial stress fractures, We conclude that anterior stress fract ures of the tibia occur mainly in the push-off/landing leg in athletes . Within the limitations of our protocol, no registered intrinsic fact or was found to be directly associated with the occurrence of a stress fracture of the tibia.