Stress fracture of the ribs in female rowers

Abstract

Stress fractures of the lower ribs related to sports are rare. Fractures of the ribs related to rowing sports have not been reported. We have documented seven cases of stress fractures of the lower ribs in female athletes; four were elite rowers and three were engaged in tennis, golf, and gymnastics. Each athlete was initially seen and treated elsewhere for muscular strain. All athletes presented with pain in the posterolateral thorax in and around the scapula. The time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis ranged from 2 to 6 months. Bone scans were used to document the fractures when roentgenograms were equivocal. Each athlete responded to a 4 to 8 week period of rest or training modification. Biomechanical analysis of the forces across the ribs demonstrates that these fractures tend to occur along the posterolateral segment where the bending stresses on the rib are greatest. The predominant muscle forces are generated by the forced couple of scapular retraction and protraction acting through the serratus anterior. We postulate that inadequate strength and resistance training background in women is the cause for the apparent increased susceptibility of women to these skeletal injuries.