Background

Stress fractures are common in young athletes and a major cause of time lost from training. While epidemiological data exist from Western countries, reports from Asian regions, particularly in subtropical settings, are limited, as year-round training may influence injury risk.

Purpose

To assess stress fracture characteristics among adolescent and recreational athletes in Okinawa.

Study design

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods

A retrospective review of medical records from orthopaedic clinics and sports medicine centers across Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, between 2018 and 2019 was conducted. Athletes aged