Female Athlete Research

Abstract

Digital health tools provide longitudinal physiological and behavioural data that can address knowledge gaps in women's health. This is particularly relevant for understanding hormone-driven physiological changes and symptoms, which impact health and performance across the lifespan. We conducted a scoping review of research using wearables or smartphone applications to identify insights about physiology, health behaviours, and symptoms throughout the menstrual cycle and menopausal transition. We identified 40 original articles. We summarise findings that reproduce lab-based results, giving confidence in the use of digital health tools for studying menstrual health, along with new insights gained. Given the importance of validation against gold standards, and the lack of a prior synthesis of wearable accuracy for women's health applications, we next report accuracies of wearables that measure biometrics relevant to menstrual health. Finally, we discuss future research needs, including understanding physiological changes during perimenopause, and the role of health behaviours in symptom management.

View details for DOI 10.1101/2025.09.24.25336575

View details for PubMedID 41674608

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12889786

View details for DOI 10.1249/01.mss.0001155372.57545.bc

View details for Web of Science ID 001573086000039

View details for DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2025-109695

View details for PubMedID 40541297

Abstract

Increasing cadence is an intervention to reduce injury risk for adolescent long-distance runners. It is unknown how adolescents respond biomechanically when running with a higher than preferred cadence. We examined the influence of increasing cadence on peak joint angles, moments and powers, and ground reaction forces in long-distance runners. We collected three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics for 31 high school cross-country runners during overground running at their preferred cadence (baseline), +5%, and +10% baseline cadence. We performed repeated-measures ANOVAs to compare peak joint angles, moments and powers, and ground reactions forces among cadence conditions. Increasing cadence reduced peak pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle joint angles (p ≤ .01), peak knee moment and powers (p < .001), peak ankle power (p ≤ .01), and peak ground reaction forces (p ≤ .01) but increased peak hip moment and powers (p < .001). Increasing cadence by 10% elicited greater magnitude changes compared to increasing cadence by 5%. Increasing cadence may be a beneficial intervention to reduce lower extremity peak joint angles and knee kinetics for adolescent long-distance runners. The increase in hip kinetics when running at a higher than preferred cadence indicates this intervention increases the loads applied to the hip for adolescent long-distance runners.

View details for DOI 10.1080/14763141.2025.2450644

View details for PubMedID 39780322

Abstract

Bone stress injuries, commonly referred to as stress reactions and stress fractures, represent overuse injuries to bone. These injuries result in physical limitations in activity and can be career-ending for high-level athletes. While bone stress injuries have received increased attention in recent years, international consensus is lacking on definitions, risk factors and strategies for management and prevention. This study aimed to ascertain and improve the level of agreement on bone stress injuries by utilising a three-part modified Delphi approach on (1) pathophysiology, diagnosis, terminology and classification systems; (2) risk factors, screening and prevention; and (3) management and return to sport. A multidisciplinary steering committee initiated the consensus process. A panel of 41 members from six continents was formed to complete three rounds of voting, including experts (scientists and clinicians) and representatives (athletes and coaches). Thirty-three, 28 and 28 panel members completed Delphi rounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Consensus was reached on 41 out of 58 statements. Findings from this Delphi study outline a multifactorial approach to identify and manage bone stress injuries and to promote bone health in athletes. This includes recommendations for diagnostic workup and treatment to assist clinicians in caring for patients with bone stress injuries. Finally, this consensus process identifies knowledge gaps and provides a framework for future research to advance the clinical care and prevention of bone stress injuries.

View details for DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108616

View details for PubMedID 39638438

Abstract

Endurance events are popular worldwide and have many health benefits. However, runners and Para athletes may sustain musculoskeletal injuries or experience other health consequences from endurance events. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) Runner Health Consortium aimed to generate consensus-based survey items for use in prospective research to identify risk factors for injuries in runners and Para athletes training and competing in endurance events. The study design employed a modified Delphi approach, with a panel comprising 28 experts, including healthcare professionals, coaches, and athletes. Potential survey items were generated by panel members who subsequently engaged in three rounds of voting using Research Electronic Data Capture. Items were graded by clarity, relevance, and importance. Items achieving 80% consensus on all three aspects were retained. The response rate was 100% in R round 1 and 96% in Rrounds 2 and 3. Of 124 initial survey items, consensus was reached on 53, 34 and 22 items during Rrounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Two accepted items were removed due to redundancy. Combined with 10 non-voting items, 117 items covered key domains, including training and injury history, dietary behaviours and associated factors (such as menstrual function), footwear, mental health, and specific considerations for Para athletes. The consensus-based survey items should be considered by researchers to better understand the health of runners and Para athletes who train and compete in endurance sports to identify risk factors for injury.

View details for DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2023-108059

View details for PubMedID 39486880

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of a video series versus online pamphlets/blog posts on Female Athlete Triad (Triad) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) knowledge in high school female runners.Runners from 10 US schools were cluster-randomised into groups to either watch videos or read pamphlets on Triad/REDs, nutrition, menstrual cycle, bone health and mental health. Changes in knowledge and interest were assessed using generalised estimating equations.Forty-five runners were in the video intervention group (mean age=16.0) and 39 in the control (mean age=15.7). Both groups showed knowledge gains for all topics, except for mental health, where knowledge was already high. The intervention group's knowledge increase (means=75.7 and 93.3) was not significantly higher than the control's (means=77.9 and 93.6) (p=0.149). However, the intervention group had stronger scores on behavioural impact, information novelty and interest (means=3.77, 3.93 and 4.14) compared with the control's (means=3.36, 3.48 and 3.52) (p≤0.05, p≤0.05 and p≤0.001).Both videos and pamphlets improved knowledge of Triad/REDs and female athlete science, however videos had a greater influence on athletes' engagement and behavioural intentions.

View details for DOI 10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001901

View details for Web of Science ID 001311554800001

View details for PubMedID 39290377

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11407224