Abstract des Autors

Although mechanical loading accociated with exercise participation can lead to positive bone adaptation, structural damage may result if loading is excessive. Stress fractures represent one form of breakdown in the skeleton. They can be defined as partial or complete fractures of bone that result from the repeated application of a stress less than that required to fracture bone in a single loading situation. While it is apparent that stress fracture development involves repetitive loading and the processes of both bone fatigue, with microdamage accumulation, and remodelling, the exact pathogenesis is unknown. Based on a review of published reports, we shall present two possible models for the pathogenesis of stress fractures in athletes. Understanding the pathogenesis may aid in the identification of factors which place an athlete at increased risk for this sports injury. Verf.-Referat