It has become customary to begin any discussion about stress fractures by crediting Breithaupt with the description of the syndrome of painful, swollen feet associated with marching Prussian soldiers in 1855. For nearly a century following his description, stress fractures were almost exclusively described in the military population. However, in the last 50 years, with the development of competitive sport activities, stress injuries have become increasingly seen in the non-military athletic population.

Today, we can intimate that stress injuries are the hidden enemy of athletic success. They represent one of the most persistent challenges in modern athletics. They are often overlooked, until they become severe enough to sideline athletes for weeks or months. In high-performance environments where training loads are intense and recovery is limited, these injuries can derail promising careers. Sports involving repetitive impact, such as running, gymnastics, handball, and football are at highest risk. These injuries occur most often when micro damage accumulates faster than the body's ability to repair; often exacerbated by factors such as inadequate rest, poor nutrition and sudden increase in training habits. We must consider that stress-related injuries with poor recovery can have significant psychological effects on athletes. During rehabilitation, they may experience anxiety, frustration, isolation, and fear of reinjury with an associated loss of confidence. When stress injuries occur, early diagnosis and prevention are essential. Prioritising prevention, education, and comprehensive care can protect athletes from the dangerous threat of stress injuries and ensure longevity in sport.

The aim of this issue is to provide a comprehensive overview of the most prevalent stress-related injuries in athletes and to update current knowledge with the latest terminology in this field.

Four years ago, Aspetar established the Aspetar Bone Stress Injuries Multidisciplinary Group with the aim of advancing research and clinical practice in this area. For this special issue of the Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal, I have invited three distinguished members of this group - Dr. Juan-Manuel Alonso, Dr. Stephen Targett, and Mr. Evan Thierry Jeanguyot - to serve as Guest Editors. They have curated an exceptional team of internationally recognised experts who have contributed high-quality manuscripts offering both practical guidance and scientific insights into the most common stress injuries encountered in sports medicine.

I extend my sincere appreciation to our Guest Editors - Juan-Manuel, Stephen, and Evan - for their outstanding leadership and editorial work, as well as to all contributing authors for their invaluable efforts and scholarly contributions that have made this issue possible.

I will finish this issue with the message:

In modern times, where performance is crucial, stress injuries stay to remind us of the fundamental truth of the sport: recovery is not optional - it is part of training.

To all our readers, I wish you a HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR.

Prof Nebojsa Popovic MD PhD

Editor-in-Chief