Golf-related stress fractures: a structured review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Stress fractures are troublesome injuries. Sites of occurrence are activity-related and specific anatomical sites are endemic to certain sports. Little is known about stress fracture patterns in golf.


OBJECTIVE
A structured review of the literature was conducted to identify the occurrence and injury sites of golf-related stress fractures.


METHODS
A literature search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus was conducted using a combination of controlled vocabulary and truncated text words to capture all articles relevant to golf-related stress fractures. Articles meeting inclusion criteria were descriptively analyzed.


RESULTS
The search resulted in 164 articles, of which 13 met the inclusion, and reported 44 cases of golf-related stress fractures. Seven anatomical injury sites were identified with rib stress fracture being the most commonly reported. Stress fractures occurred on the golfer's lead-side in 80% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Golf-related stress fractures are infrequent injuries. The ribs were the most common stress fracture site, and a predilection for lead-side involvement was reported.
Lee
Alexander D
AD
Sports Sciences Resident Year II, Graduate Education and Research Programs, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, 6100 Leslie Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2H 3J1. Tel: +1 416 482 2340. Email: alee1@cmcc.ca.