Bone Stress Injury Facts

Sometimes patients don’t understand that injuries generally come from activities that go beyond their mental and physical capacity. The “go big or go home” mentality in sports is a surefire way to end up injured and in pain. Because there is only so much stress your body can handle, once you reach the threshold, it begins to break down. Below are 4 bone stress injury (BSI) facts to share with your clients.

1. Nearly 10% of the injuries sports medicine clinics see are due to a BSI.

·        These stress fractures are due to overuse or bone fatigue.

·        Bone insufficiency can also lead to BSI.

·        Lower limb fractures are drastically more common than upper limb injuries.

2. Anywhere between 35 and 65 percent of runners have a history of BSI.

·        The most common stress fractures in runners occur in the 3^rd and 4^th toe bones.

·        Leg bones below the knee, the tibia and fibula, are the next most common places for runners to experience BSI.

3. In one year, nearly a fifth of all cross country and track+field athletes experience a BSI.

·        In fact, half of all track+field athletes have reported at least one BSI.

·        10% of cross country athletes who have had a previous BSI will sustain a further BSI in the next few years.

4. Women are more likely to experience a BSI than men.

·        Eating disorders, amenorrhea and osteoporosis leave female athletes more at risk.

·        Naturally, a woman’s bone mass decreases with age which increases chances of injury.

Bone stress injuries are highly common among athletes. By avoiding activities that go beyond the mental and physical capacity of your body, the injuries can be widely avoided. However, some predispositions can make any athlete vulnerable to a BSI. Be sure to share these facts with your clients to help them better understand how they can stay safe and healthy.