Female Athlete Research

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

Abstract

To co-construct a sports medicine and exercise science research and translational agenda with Team USA elite female athletes serving as the experts on their health, performance and well-being.40 Team USA female athletes across sports disciplines participated in an online, anonymous, modified Delphi survey by ranking topics on a Likert scale (1='strongly disagree' and 5='strongly agree') and providing qualitative justification regarding whether they believed having more information and research on each topic would support their athletic performance, health and well-being. After each Delphi round, quantitative rankings of topics and qualitative justifications were analysed, informing revisions to the list of topics for review in the subsequent round. Researchers provided athletes with a detailed report of findings and revisions following each round.The final list contained 14 ranked topics. The top five were menstrual cycle symptoms (4.58±0.74), recovery (4.58±0.59), birth control (4.55±0.89), mental health (4.50±0.55) and fueling and the menstrual cycle (4.43±0.74). New topics originating from athletes included recovery, menstrual cycle symptoms, fueling and the menstrual cycle, mental health and sports performance, team dynamics, and institutionalised sexism.This is the first study to co-construct a research and translational agenda with Team USA elite female athletes. The list of sports science research topics developed by focusing on elite female athletes' voices lays the foundation for future research and provides valuable insight into the specific needs of female athletes.

View details for DOI 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107886

View details for PubMedID 38981661

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and describe risk factors for running-related injuries (RRI) among high school and collegiate cross country runners. DESIGN: Descriptive systematic review. LITERATURE SEARCH: Four databases (Scopus, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Cochrane) were searched from inception to August 2023. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies assessing RRI risk factors in high school or collegiate runners using a prospective design with at least one season of follow-up were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Results across each study for a given risk factor were summarized and described. The NOS and GRADE frameworks were used to evaluate quality of each study and certainty of evidence for each risk factor. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were included. Overall, study quality and certainty of evidence was low to moderate. Females or runners with prior RRI or increased RED-S risk factors were most at-risk for RRI, as were runners with a quadriceps angle >20° and lower step rates. Runners with weaker thigh muscle groups had increased risk of anterior knee pain. Certainty in evidence regarding training, sleep, and specialization was low, but suggests changes in training volume, poorer sleep, and increased specialization may increase RRI risk. CONCLUSION: The strongest predictors of RRI in high school and collegiate cross country runners are sex and RRI history, which are non-modifiable. There is moderate certainty that increased RED-S risk factors increase RRI risk, particularly bone stress injuries. There is limited evidence that changes in training and sleep quality influence RRI risk, but these are modifiable factors that should be studied further in this population.

View details for DOI 10.2519/jospt.2023.11550

View details for PubMedID 37970801

View details for DOI 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001150

View details for Web of Science ID 001021401900006

Abstract

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of a nutrition education intervention on bone stress injury (BSI) incidence among female distance runners at two NCAA Division I institutions.Methods: Historical BSI rates were measured retrospectively (2010-2013); runners were then followed prospectively in pilot (2013-2016) and intervention (2016-2020) phases. The primary aim was to compare BSI rates in the historical and intervention phases. Pilot phase data are included only for descriptive purposes. The intervention comprised team nutrition presentations focused on optimising energy availability plus individualised nutrition sessions for runners with elevated Female Athlete Triad risk. Annual BSI rates were calculated using a generalised estimating equation Poisson regression model adjusted for age and institution. Post hoc analyses were stratified by institution and BSI type (trabecular-rich or cortical-rich).Results: The historical phase included 56 runners and 90.2 person-years; the intervention phase included 78 runners and 137.3 person-years. Overall BSI rates were not reduced from the historical (0.52 events per person-year) to the intervention (0.43 events per person-year) phase. Post hoc analyses demonstrated trabecular-rich BSI rates dropped significantly from 0.18 to 0.10 events per person-year from the historical to intervention phase (p=0.047). There was a significant interaction between phase and institution (p=0.009). At Institution 1, the overall BSI rate dropped from 0.63 to 0.27 events per person-year from the historical to intervention phase (p=0.041), whereas no decline was observed at Institution 2.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a nutrition intervention emphasising energy availability may preferentially impact trabecular-rich BSI and depend on team environment, culture and resources.

View details for DOI 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001545

View details for PubMedID 37180969

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of male and female athlete triad risk factors in ultramarathon runners and explore associations between sex hormones and bone mineral density (BMD).DESIGN: Multiyear cross-sectional study.SETTING: One hundred-mile ultramarathon.PARTICIPANTS: Competing runners were recruited in 2018 and 2019.ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS: Participants completed a survey assessing eating behaviors, menstrual history, and injury history; dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry for BMD; and laboratory evaluation of sex hormones, vitamin D, and ferritin (2019 cohort only).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A Triad Cumulative Risk Assessment Score was calculated for each participant.RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three runners participated (83 males and 40 females, mean age 46.2 and 41.8 years, respectively). 44.5% of men and 62.5% of women had elevated risk for disordered eating. 37.5% of women reported a history of bone stress injury (BSI) and 16.7% had BMD Z scores <-1.0. 20.5% of men had a history of BSI and 30.1% had Z-scores <-1.0. Low body mass index (BMI) (<18.5 kg/m2) was seen in 15% of women and no men. The Triad Cumulative Risk Assessment classified 61.1% of women and 29.2% of men as moderate risk and 5.6% of both men and women as high risk.CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to measure BMD in both male and female ultramarathon runners. Our male population had a higher prevalence of low BMD than the general population; females were more likely to report history of BSI. Risk of disordered eating was elevated among our participants but was not associated with either low BMD or low BMI.

View details for DOI 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000956

View details for PubMedID 34232162