Stress fractures in young women

Girls are more at risk for stress fractures than previously realized. Girls who spend a lot of time at high impact sports including gymnastics and basketball are twice as likely to suffer stress fractures than girls who play more low impact sports. Stress fractures are particularly worrisome because they can bring about early osteoporosis. Puberty is a time for bones to strengthen, and high impact sports may accelerate early bone disease. These fractures occur most often in the feet where repeated impact means no time to heal and recurring injury.

This is according to a study from the Archive of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

“I certainly don’t want to be discouraging any girls form becoming active,” said Allison Field, the lead author. “The problem is there are some girls that are too active…your body’s just not getting the time it needs to heal. And that’s particularly true for stress fractures.”

7,000 girls were studied. A total of 267 girls experienced stress fractures. They spent one to two hours a day playing a sport compared to girls who spent 30 minutes per day at their sport. At that rate, they were twice as likely to have an injury. Girls participating in sports like basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics and running were more vulnerable.

As girls specialize, they choose one sport and exercise that sport alone. This puts repeated impact on the same muscles and bones, weakening and stressing them. Variety as well as slow and steady seems to be in order. “What we are seeing is that some kids are spending a phenomenal amount of time engaged in sports,” Field concluded. “As with most things, you can do too much of a good thing.”

Source: Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Reuters