 |
| Research Title: |
The incidence and distribution of stress fractures in elite tennis players. |
| Type of Research: |
|
| Category: |
Conditioning
|
| Keywords: |
Tennis
Stress fracture
|
| Author(s): |
J Macquirriain, J P Ghisi |
| Author(s) Bio Box: |
|
| Release Date: |
18 July 2006 |
| Research Summary/Text: |
Stress fractures are common overuse injuries among athletes resulting from excessive, repetitive, submaximal loads on bones that cause an imbalance between bone resorption and formation. Modern competitive tennis employs powerful actions that place players at risk of injury. The clinical cases of 139 elite Argentinian tennis players, comprising 80 professionals and 59 juniors, were reviewed looking for all confirmed clinical cases of stress fracture regardless of anatomical location. All players with suspected diagnosis of stress fracture were evaluated with conventional radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
|
| Research Objectives: |
The aim of the research is to determine the incidence and distribution of stress fractures in elite tennis players.
|
| Research Outcomes: |
Of the 139 study participants 4 women and 11 men sustained stress fractures; three of the women with bilateral injuries. Consequently, 15 participants sustained 18 stress fractures, giving an overall case incidence of 12.9%. None of the players sustaining stress fracture during the study period had a prior history of such lesions. The incidence of stress fractures was significantly higher in junior players. Lower limb stress fractures were more common than upper extremity lesions and core injuries. The tarsal navicular site was the most affected followed by the pars interarticularis, the metatarsals, the tibia and the lunate.
|
| Research Implications: |
The high 12.9% absolute risk observed in this study reflects the heavy training loads demanded of elite tennis players. A higher incidence of stress fractures for junior players may be related to the application of adult training volume and progression formulas to adolescents. Training programs for young players should include rest for at least one day a week and one week of light training per month.
Pain is the key symptom of stress fractures but diagnostic delay is common as it is typically a late indicator and inappropriate loads may have been applied for several weeks. Early accurate diagnosis involving MRI as well as conventional radiographs is recommended to reduce complications and time to return to competition.
|
| | |
| Availability of Full Research Paper: |
| |
Contact for more
Info
|
|
|
|
|
|
