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7th EFSMA – European Congress of Sports Medicine, 3rd Central European Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Annual Assembly of the German and the Austrian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Austrian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

26.-29.10.2011, Salzburg, Austria

Stress fractures in the Swiss Orienteering and Triathlon National Teams – Analysis of frequency, localisation, and risk factors

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Andre Leumann - Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
  • Susanne Winkler - Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
  • Peter Züst - Swiss Orienteering, Mollis, Switzerland
  • German Clenin - Swiss Orienteering, Bern-Ittigen, Switzerland
  • Patrik Noack - Swiss Tri, Magglingen, Switzerland
  • Victor Valderrabano - Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland

7th EFSMA – European Congress of Sports Medicine, 3rd Central European Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Salzburg, 26.-29.10.2011. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2011. Doc11esm169

doi: 10.3205/11esm169, urn:nbn:de:0183-11esm1690

Published: October 24, 2011

© 2011 Leumann et al.
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Outline

Text

Objective: Stress fractures in high level endurance athletes is frequent and occur 8% to 25% per year. The importance of several intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors in high level endurance athletes is very little understood (e.g. nutrition, orthopaedics, endocrinology, gynecology, physiology of training).

Material/Methods: Retrospective data analysis of all National Team Athletes in Orienteering and Triathlon regarding frequency, localisation, and risk factors. In total, 200 patients were included (Orienteering; men 89, women 67; Triathlon; men 29, women 15). Data collection included A) analysis of the medical documents, B) questionnaire, C) personal interview if necessairy.

Results: In total, 36 athletes suffered from one ore more stress fractures during their active career (18%); OL women 22%, men 13%; Triathlon men 29, women 15. Therefrom, 44% were found at the lower leg, 33% at the forefoot; and 11% for the mid-/hindfoot and the pelvis and hip respectively. Stress fractures occur in 50% between the age of 19 and 21. A significantly elevated ratio of primary and secondary amenorhe were found. 38% of these young and very sports active patients showed already signs of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Orthopaedic-biomechanical risk factors are found approximately in one third of all athletes. Future results will be presented at the conference.

Conclusion: Stressfractures are frequent in endurance sport, and are often associated with symptoms of the female athlete triad. Age and localisation of lesions showed typical changes. The understanding and the meaning of risk factors is important, in order to identify athletes at risk and to adapt lifestyle and maybe prevent a stress fracture