Stress fractures and the female athlete

Stress injury to bone is the result of a temporary disturbance in the equil ibrium between bone resorption and bone regeneration. Knowledge of the path ophysiology of bone in health and disease currently encompasses an interact ive mode that includes biomechanical, hormonal, nutritional, and genetic fa ctors. The current study will review possible etiologic theories for stress injuries to bone with a special emphasis on gender-related factors. Female s may be more at risk for a stress injury to bone because of their unique h ormonal environment, and other anatomic and gender factors.