title: Return to sports after stress fractures of the tibial diaphysis: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This review aims to provide information on the time taken to resume sport following tibial diaphyseal stress fractures (TDSFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL, Cochrane, Web of Science, PEDro, Sports Discus, Scopus and Google Scholar was performed using the keywords 'tibial', 'tibia', 'stress', 'fractures', 'athletes', 'sports', 'non-operative', 'conservative', 'operative' and 'return to sport'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven studies were included: 16 reported specifically on anterior TDSFs and 5 on posterior TDSFs. The general principles were to primarily attempt non-operative management for all TDSFs and to consider operative intervention for anterior TDSFs that remained symptomatic after 3-6 months. Anterior TDSFs showed a prolonged return to sport.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best time to return to sport and the optimal management modalities for TDSFs remain undefined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Management of TDSFs should include a full assessment of training methods, equipment and diet to modify pre-disposing factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future prospective studies should aim to establish the optimal treatment modalities for TDSFs.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK greg_robertson@live.co.uk.
authors.forename: G A J
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000293:injuries; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000068958:Return to Sport; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: return to sport; systematic review; tibial diaphyseal stress fractures