MODELS FOR THE PATHOGENESIS OF STRESS-FRACTURES IN ATHLETES

Although mechanical loading associated with exercise participation can lead to positive bone adaptation,(1,2) structural damage may result i f loading is excessive. Stress fractures represent one form of breakdo wn in the skeleton.(3) They can be defined as partial or complete frac tures of bone that result from the repeated application of a stress le ss than that required to fracture bone in a single loading situation.( 4) While it is apparent that stress fracture development involves repe titive loading and the processes of both bone fatigue, with microdamag e accumulation, and remodelling, the exact pathogenesis is unknown. Ba sed on a review of published reports, we shall present two possible mo dels for the pathogenesis of stress fractures in athletes. Understandi ng the pathogenesis may aid in the identification of factors which pla ce an athlete at increased risk for this sports injury.