Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California, USA.
Causal factors associated with stress fractures include training errors, exercise surfaces, footwear, and anatomic abnormalities. Logically, footwear can play an important role in the development and treatment of stress fractures because foot loading, structure, and stability have a significant impact on the development of stress fractures. The important characteristics of athletic shoes in the development and treatment of stress fractures are reviewed in this article.