American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
For Immediate Release Apr 24, 2008

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS:  The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine recently awarded John Touhy, DO an NCAA research award for his research presented at the Rendezvous II in Las Vegas, NV. Dr. Touhy’s research was titled “A Prospective Analysis of Tibial Stress Fracture Incidence, Distribution and Risk Factors in Collegiate Track Athletes”.

The study followed 240 collegiate track athletes prospectively for 5 years, and found that the majority of fractures in collegiate track athletes were in the tibia. The mid-tibial area was found to be the most common area affected. The study also noted that significant risk factors for tibial stress fracture include prior fracture, female gender, younger age, and low weight. In men, low bone mineral density, low lean mass, decreased hip strength, and distance running were all found to be significant factors. These findings are significant in that they can help guide efforts in the area of prevention and treatment of tibial stress fractures.

Dr. John Touhy will finish his fellowship in primary care sports medicine this year at the UCLA Division of Sports Medicine in Los Angeles, CA. His coauthors in this study were Aurelia Nattiv, M.D., and Leanne Streja, M.S.

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) was organized in 1991 by physicians who recognized the need for an organization within the field of sports medicine that approached athletes, exercising individuals and teams comprehensively with consultative and continuous care of their orthopedic, medical, nutritional and psychosocial issues. Although sports medicine concepts are often thought of in conjunction with professional and elite athletes, these concepts apply to athletes of all levels including grade school, high school, college and recreational athletes. AMSSM is comprised of over 1000 Sports Medicine Physicians whose goal is to provide a link between the rapidly expanding core of knowledge related to sports medicine and its application to patients in a clinical setting.

NOTE: For more information, please contact the AMSSM, 11639 Earnshaw, Overland Park, KS 66210, (913) 327-1415.