Female Athlete Research

A Cross-Sectional Survey on the Relationship of the Triad/RED-S and Mental Health Issues in High School, Collegiate, and Post-Collegiate Athletes

A prospective survey-based study exploring the relationship between mental health, nutrition, & injury risk in high school, collegiate, club, or post-collegiate athletes. (can add poster)

We are hoping to understand the prevalence of both mental health illness, including depression and anxiety, the prevalence of relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), and the degree to which the two findings correlate. Furthering understanding of the relationship between mental health illness and RED-S could assist in the development of treatment and prevention strategies.

Assessing Clinical Efficacy of the Female Athlete Triad/RED-S Risk Stratification and Return to Play Screening/Assessment Tools

Prospective survey-based study in collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital. In this research study we want to learn more about the efficacy of return to play screening and assessment tools for male athletes. Specifically, we would like to study Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), which refers to the impaired psychological functioning and performance consequences caused by limited energy availability. Using your results, we will be better able to determine which screening tool is more reliable and convenient for clinical use.

Unique Bone Stress Injury Multicenter Case Review

We are performing a case series of unique bone stress injuries of pediatric patients, looking at various anatomical locations. This is a multicenter retrospective chart review consisting of seven academic centers: Stanford University, Washington University in St. Louis, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Nemours, University of Rochester, Rutgers and University of Missouri.

The purpose of the study is to examine and describe characteristics of unique bone stress injuries related to their mechanism of injury, diagnosis, injury severity, and recovery.

Genetic and Serologic Determinants of Bone Health in Ultramarathon Runners

The Western States Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 mile trail race, starting in Squaw Valley, CA and ending in Auburn, CA. In the days leading up to the race, our team collected salivary DNA samples, DXA scans, and blood samples from runners. We plan to use this data in conjunction with a pre-race survey to better understand how nutrition, bone density, genetic markers, and serum biomarkers affect bone stress injury risk and injury rate in ultramarathoners. With this understanding, we aim to develop prevention guidelines that clinicians, coaches, and athletes can follow to improve bone health in this unique population.

Supported by a grant from the Western States Endurance Run Foundation. Genetic testing was done in partnership with AxGen, Inc. Serologic testing was performed in partnership with InsideTracker and DXA scans were performed in partnership with BodySpec.

Female Athlete Triad and Iron Deficiency

The female athlete triad (Triad) and an analogous process in males has been associated with an increased risk of bone stress injury. This investigated the prevalence of female athlete triad risk factors including low energy availability, nutrient deficiencies, menstrual irregularity, hormonal disturbance, low bone density, and bone stress injuries in high school athletes. Athletes from different sports will be included for comparison. Investigators hypothesized that there will be a high prevalence of Triad risk factors that will vary by sport and correlate with low BMD, hormonal dysregulation, and nutrient deficiencies. The goal of this study is to use this information to develop a screening tool to identify at risk high school athletes. This will improve physician counseling for adolescent athletes and lay the foundation for future education programs to decrease Triad prevalence.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Emily Kraus