Metabolic Bone Health in Female Patients: Focus on Foot and Ankle

Metabolic bone health is crucial for the overall well-being of female patients. Female athletes and young females are of particular interest, as their skeletal systems are still developing and are sensitive to the hormonal and physical stress of training and diet. Stress fractures occur with higher frequency in females with risk factors such as low bone mineral density (BMD). When low bone mineral density occurs along with menstrual irregularities and relative energy deficiency, it completes the female triad (23, 27, and 28). Any discussion of female BMD and metabolic bone health must include the female triad.