An investigation into the association of bone characteristics and body composition with stress fracture in athletes.

Background The aim of the study was to establish the bone and body composition characteristics of high-level athletes with and without a history of stress fracture injury. Methods 279 high-level athletes (212 men, 67 women) (age 28.0 ± 9.2 years; body mass 75.0 ± 17.4kg; height 1.78 ± 0.10m) and 112 non-athletic controls (60 women, 52 men) 36.2 ± 15.0 years; 70.9 ± 12.9kg; 1.71 ± 0.10m) were assessed by DXA to establish their bone mineral density and content, body fat and lean mass. Athletes completed a questionnaire detailing their stress fracture history. Results There were no differences in whole-body bone mineral density (men 1.41 ± 0.12g/cm2, women 1.19 ± 0.09g/cm2), bone mineral content (men 3709 ± 626g,women 2263 ± 290g), body fat (men 16.3± 5.0%,women 23.0 ± 4.6%) and lean mass (men 65.4 ± 9.9kg,women 38.7 ± 3.6kg) between athletes with a history of stress fracture (34 men, 16 women) and those without (176 men, 40 women). Conclusions DXA derived bone and body composition characteristics were not independent risk factors for stress fracture injury in high-level athletes. This study in a large cohort of high-level athletes provides normative bone and body composition values that can be used as a benchmark for researchers and applied practitioners.