Upper-limb ‘stress fractures’ and an introduction to new terminology

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Sports medicine

Upper-limb ‘stress fractures’ and an introduction to new terminology

26 April 2023

Steve Targett

Wednesday 26 April 2023, 12:40 AM

Gymnasts should take care to gradually increase training loads as the arms are not “designed” to be weight bearing [Image: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels]

Sports physician Steve Targett discusses a recommended terminology update – from ‘stress fracture’ to ‘bone stress injury’ – then looks at such injuries in the upper limbs

Key points, Overuse injuries of bones should now be called bone stress injuries, with the term “stress fracture” reserved for cases where a fracture line is shown, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Musculoskeletal

References

1. Warden SJ, Hoenig T, Sventeckis AM, et al. Not all bone overuse injuries are stress fractures: it is time for updated terminology. Br J Sports Med 2023;57(2):76–77.

2. Karlson K. Upper extremity injuries. In Bone Stress Injuries: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Tenforde AS, Fredericson M (eds). Demos Medical; 2021.

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