Research article - (2009)08, 130 - 135
Self-Reported Versus Diagnosed Stress Fractures in Norwegian Female Elite Athletes
Jannike Øyen1,, Monica Klungland Torstveit2, Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen3
1Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
2University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
3The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Ullevål Stadion, Oslo, Norway

Jannike Øyen
✉ Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.
Email: jannike.oyen@kir.uib.no
Received: 17-12-2008 -- Accepted: 09-02-2009
Published (online): 01-03-2009
ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self- reported versus diagnosed stress fractures in female elite athletes and non-athletic controls. A random sample of Norwegian elite athletes from the national teams, aged 13-39 years (n = 186) and a random sample of non-athletic controls (n = 145) in the same age group participated in the study. The athletes represented a junior- or senior team, or a recruiting squad for one of these teams, in one of 46 different sports/events. A higher percentage of athletes self-reported stress fractures (14.0%) compared to those diagnosed with stress fractures (8.1%) (p < 0.001). Six controls self- reported stress fractures, but none of them were diagnosed with stress fractures. These results indicate that self-reporting of stress fractures has low validity. This finding has important implications for further research on stress fractures in athletes.
Key words: Imaging, sports, injuries, validity

Key Points
  • This study is the first to compare self-reported and diagnosed stress fractures in the total population of elite athletes representing all kinds of sports.
  • The results indicate that self-reporting of stress fractures has low validity in both athletes and non-athletic controls, and other measurement methods should be considered when evaluating possible stress fractures.
  • Based on our results, stress fractures seem to be a sport-related injury.








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Self-Reported Versus Diagnosed Stress Fractures in Norwegian Female Elite Athletes
Jannike Øyen, Monica Klungland Torstveit, Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen
2009(08), 130 - 135.
DOI: https://doi.org/