EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SITE-SPECIFICITY OF STRESS-FRACTURES

This article reviews the descriptive epidemiology of stress fractures in both athletic and military populations. Methodologic issues are add ressed, including the paucity of sound epidemiological studies in athl etes and the problems associated with study design, sample bias, durat ion of observation, method of data collection and stress fracture defi nition. Stress fracture rates are categorized according to population, gender, race, and age in an attempt to identify individuals most at r isk for this overuse injury. Finally, the site distribution and morbid ity of stress fractures are presented.