Bone stress injuries in athletes: how they heal and when to return to sport

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This multisite, prospective cohort study tracks MRI-confirmed tibia, metatarsal, and femoral bone stress injuries in runners and athletes over 12 months. Participants continue usual medical care and follow a standardized, progressive return-to-run plan designed with clinicians and therapists. Researchers will document clinical pain, functional tests, and imaging findings to map how recovery markers evolve and how they relate to reinjury risk. The goal is to identify timing and indicators that best reflect healing and readiness to return to sport. No experimental treatment is given; the study uses the diagnostic MRI as a common reference point for milestones.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed BSI of the tibia, metatarsal two, three, or four, femoral neck or femoral shaft by MRI, grade two or higher on the Fredericson grading scale7
* Age 16-35 years
* Body Mass Index 17.5-30 kg/m2
* Self-reported minimum of three hours per week of endurance exercise that includes running at least fifteen miles per week during three months prior to injury
* Study enrollment within three weeks of MRI

Exclusion Criteria:

* Self-reported history of endocrine disorder that impacts bone health (e.g., diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or primary hyperparathyroidism)
* Self-reported history of bone disease or other bone disorder (e.g., osteopetrosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteomalacia, rickets, Paget's disease, or multiple myeloma)
* Use of thyroid hormone replacement at suppressive doses for a history of thyroid cancer
* History of chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer in the past 5 years
* Currently taking or have taken oral glucocorticoids for greater than three months (e.g., prednisone or hydrocortisone)
* Current or prior use of osteoporosis medications (e.g., bisphosphonates, teriparatide)
* Current use of anti-seizure medications (e.g. Phenytoin (Dilantin), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Phenobarbitol)
* Currently pregnant
* Currently lactating
* Contraindications to MRI
* BSI is planned to be managed operatively
* Tibial BSI on the anterior aspect of the bone
* Participants that are non-English speaking

Where it's running

• Stanford University
  Stanford, California, United States Recruiting
• TRIA Orthopedic Center
  Bloomington, Minnesota, United States Recruiting
• University of Oregon
  Eugene, Oregon, United States Recruiting
• Canadian Institute of Sport Pacific
  Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Kristy Popp, PhD
• Email: Kristy.L.Popp@HealthPartners.Com
• Phone: 952-806-5603

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.