Current concepts in the evaluation and management of stress fractures.

Although new technologies aid in making a rapid diagnosis and help predict clinical course of treatment, the diagnosis of stress fractures remains dependent on a high index of suspicion. Management of stress fractures involves clinical knowledge of those stress fractures that are prone to complication. The identification of predisposing factors to stress injury should be addressed. These include proper nutrition, hormonal balance, and correcting biomechanical deficits and training errors. Comprehensive evaluation and treatment is essential in facilitating recovery from stress fracture. Several new and more aggressive prevention and treatment strategies have been reported. The maintenance of cardiovascular fitness throughout the recovery process remains a key to the fastest return to full participation.