Stress Fractures And The Reproductive System In The Female Athlete

Abstract

Stress fractures are more common in the female athlete. Stress fractures of the pubic ramus and femoral neck are particularly more common in females than in males. Rib stress fractures are an important injury to consider in the female rower, whereas spondylolysis is a common cause of low back pain in female athletes who hyperextend their spines. The higher incidence of stress fractures in females is mainly due to the higher prevalence of disordered eating and subsequent energy imbalance, which leads to detrimental effects on bone. This review discusses stress fractures and unique issues related to exercise and the female reproductive system. This review contains 6 figures, 5 tables and 49 references Key words: amenorrhea, bone mineral density, disordered eating, female athlete triad, femoral neck, pregnancy, pubic ramus, rib, spondylolysis, stress fracture