Female Athletes Research Articles

Examining the Relationship and the Gender Differences between Re-Injury Worry, Confidence, and Attention after a Sport Musculoskeletal Injury.

Introduction: A sport injury is an unfortunate event that can significantly impact the injured athletes' psychology. There have been no studies examining gender differences in the psychological state after a sport-related musculoskeletal injury. Τhe aims of the current study were to (a) investigate the relationship between re-injury worry levels, confidence, and attention in the injured athletes who followed a rehabilitation program in order to return to competition, and (b) compare differences in these psychological factors between male and female athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used. A total of 60 athletes (30 men and 30 women) volunteered to participate, aged 25.50 ± 5.25 years old, all of whom had experienced a musculoskeletal injury within the past year. Three validated questionnaires, i.e., the Causes of Re-Injury Worry Questionnaire, the Sport Confidence Questionnaire of Rehabilitated Athletes Returning to Competition, and the Attention Questionnaire of Rehabilitated Athletes Returning to Competition, were completed by the participants on their first competitive game after their rehabilitation program. Results: All of the athletes experienced average levels of re-injury worry due to their opponents' ability and distraction attention, and high levels of confidence and functional attention. Many factors from the questionnaires were correlated with each other. Men experienced lower levels of re-injury worry due to rehabilitation compared to the women athletes (U = 329.00, p < 0.05), and women exhibited higher "Re-injury Worry due to Opponent's Ability" compared to the men athletes (U = 292.00, p < 0.01). Conclusions: A strong relationship was found between re-injury worry, confidence, and attention, with few gender differences. Since there is no previous research examining re-injury worry, confidence, and attention between men and women, future research with larger and more homogeneous samples is needed to confirm the present results.

Sleep quality and sports performance in physically impaired athletes of individual sports

Aim: To investigate the relationship between sleep quality and sports performance of individuals with physical impairments in individual sports.Methods: Three hundred and thirty-eight athletes (age: 36.43 ± 10.81 yrs.; 145 women and 193 men) participated in the study. Volunteers completed a five-part questionnaire on sleep quality. Based on the information available in the Provincial boards and the Veterans and Disabled Federation, the positions obtained by each athlete were considered as a criterion measure of sports performance.Results: Result showed that in women the positions obtained at the Provincial, National and International level was significantly higher compared with male athletes (p &lt; 0.05). There was no significant relationship between sleep quality and athletic performance of women, men and total (both men and women) athletes in individual sports at the Provincial level (women: r = 0.070, p = 0.409; men: r = -0.844, p = 0.242 and men and women: r = -0.029, p = 0.600); National level (women: r = 0.093, p = 0.271; men: r = 0.020, p = 0.785, men and women: r = 0.039, p = 0.474) and International level (women: r = 0.024, p = 0.781; men: r = 0.094, p = 0.191, men and women: r -0.078, p = 0.151).Conclusion: There was no significant difference in sleep quality between male and female athletes with physical impairments. No significant relationship was observed between athletic performance and sleep quality between the two groups. In future research, field studies can be used to evaluate this relationship.

Numerical-physical modelling of the long jump flight of female athletes: Impact of jump style, hairstyle and clothing

The long jump is a track and field event in which the athlete sprints down a runway and tries to leap as far as possible from a take-off line. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published studies on the aerodynamic impact of jump style, hairstyle and clothing on the long jump distance. This paper presents a numerical-physical model of the long jump flight. It allows to predict flight distance and the impact of jump style, hairstyle and clothing. It consists of five submodels: an existing model of the sprint before take-off, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of different body postures in flight, a set of physical wind tunnel models for CFD validation, a full-scale wind tunnel manikin with different hairstyles and clothing and a numerical model of the flight trajectory. Jump style only impacts flight distance by 1 cm or less. Hairstyle and clothing however can cause drag to vary by more than 25% and flight distance by more than 10 cm, mostly by impacting the take-off speed. In the long term, long jump events might see the introduction of hair caps and low-drag clothing to reduce aerodynamic resistance and level the playing field.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in nulliparous Indian sportswomen.

A common gynaecological problem among women that leads to a negative impact on quality of life and causes distress is the involuntary loss of urine which is addressed as urinary incontinence (UI). Females involved in playing various types of sports perform high-intensity activities which can serve as risk factors for UI and pelvic organ prolapse. According to the available literature, there is a scarcity of information regarding data on the prevalence of UI in Indian female athletes. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of UI in nulliparous Indian sportswomen. For a duration of 6 months, a cross-sectional study was carried out in various sports centres across the states of Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi. A total of 560 nulliparous Indian female sportswomen were involved based on the selection criteria. The various sports involved were malkhamb, kabaddi, kushti, weightlifting, gymnastics, basketball, badminton, and athletics. All the participants were provided with a questionnaire for female UI diagnosis (QUID), which was the primary outcome measure. Out of 560 women enrolled in the study, the highest prevalence was found for stress urinary incontinence (SUI), consisting of 126 (22.5%) women, followed by mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), involving 49 (8.8%) women, and urge urinary incontinence (UUI), including 47 (8.4%) women. Additionally, the prevalence of UI was highest in obese and overweight Indian sportswomen. Moreover, the highest prevalence of SUI among women was for weightlifting, whereas for UUI and MUI, malkhamb and kushti sports were the most prevalent, respectively. The present study concluded that the highest prevalence among nulliparous Indian sportswomen was for SUI, followed by MUI and UUI. Additionally, weightlifting sport showed the highest prevalence for SUI, followed by malkhamb for UUI and kushti for MUI. The prevalence of UI in Indian sportswomen is important as it imparts knowledge and awareness among women and benefits professionals in designing appropriate preventive and rehabilitative protocols for curtailing such problems in the near future.

Knee-ankle kinematics and coupling responses to SportsMetrics training programs in females athletes with dynamic knee valgus: A sport-specific approach

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the impact of SportsMetrics programs on knee and ankle kinematics, as well as knee-ankle coupling responses during double leg landings among female athletes with dynamic knee valgus (ligament dominance). MethodsEighty-four female athletes, including 30 volleyball players, 30 basketball players, and 24 soccer players, were randomly divided into two equal training (TG) and a control groups (CG). The TG underwent 18 sessions of SportsMetrics exercises, while the CG maintained their regular exercise routine. Dynamic knee valgus, lower limb kinematics, and coordination were assessed using the double leg squat and landing error scoring system tests. Main outcome measuresThe main outcome measures encompassed knee sagittal and frontal kinematics, ankle sagittal kinematics, as well as knee-ankle coordination and its variability. ResultsSignificant reduction in knee range of motion in the frontal plane was observed across all three sports during landing. The SportsMetrics program tailored for basketball players led to a specific increase in knee flexion. ConclusionThe implementation of SportsMetrics effectively modifies ACL injury risk factors, addressing dynamic knee valgus and landing techniques in female athletes. Female athletes displaying dynamic knee valgus are advised to incorporate sport-specific SportsMetrics programs into their training regimens for optimal results.

A Comparative Study on Participation Motives and Psychological Well-being of Female University Student-Athletes in Kenya and Türkiye

In this study, it was aimed to examine the motivation to participate, psychological well-being, harmony in life, and contentment with life assessment of female university student athletes in Kenya and Türkiye. The study was designed with the descriptive and relational survey model as a quantitative research method. The research group consisted of 379 students representing female university athletes in Türkiye (224) and Kenya (155). Motivation to Participate in Sport Scale (Gill et al., 1983), Psychological Well-being Scale (Diener et al., 2010), Harmony in Life Scale (Kjell et al., 2016) and Contentment with Life Assessment Scale (Lavallee et al., 2007) were used as data collection tools. As a result of the findings of the study, there was a significant difference between individual athletes and team athletes studying in Türkiye in motivation to participate in sports and this difference was in favor of team athletes (p&amp;lt;.05). As a result, female athlete university students' motives for participation in sports and adaptation in life were in favor of Türkiye, but their psychological well-being levels were against Türkiye. Although the psychological well-being levels of female athlete university students are in favor of Kenya, their motives for sports participation and harmony in life are against Kenya. In this case, it shows that there are issues that both countries should pay attention to in order for female university students to be better and more successful.

Low Back Pain Risk Among Athlete: A Scientometric Study

Low back pain (LBP) emerges as a prevalent concern within the athletic community, characterized by a noteworthy proclivity for recurrence. The repeated occurrence of LBP substantially impedes athletes and adversely affects their performance. As such, it becomes imperative to discern the underlying factors contributing to injuries in the lumbar region. The scientometric analysis will provide a clear pathway for researchers to understand the current state and evolution of the theme research area of low back pain risk among athletes. No scientometric study on this theme has been undertaken until today. Therefore, this research objective was to collect data from the database to identify the present trend of low back pain risk, development patterns, and current research. Software that has been utilized for commonness, co-occurrence, clustering, co-citation and analysis of burst was CiteSpace. A scientometric review of studies on athletes' low back pain risk from 2000 to 2023 finds considerable additional studies in the amount of literature, the citation frequency, and the hotspots available. The most influential author is Douglas W. Jackson, the most influential article is Biomechanical measures of neuromuscular control and valgus loading of the knee predict anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in female athletes: a prospective study. Thoraco-lumbar spine is the most common cluster, whereas the most popular keyword is spondylolisthesis. In conclusion, low back pain is becoming one of the future study topics. Furthermore, many stakeholders must be aware of current trends and advances in the athlete's low back pain risk.

The Effect of Velocity-Based Contraction Strength Training on Performance in Female 400m Athletes

This study aims to compare the differences in strength training at velocity of muscle contraction in 400-meter runners. The sample group consisted of 12 female athletes who participated in the Thailand National Sports competition qualifiers in 2023. The group was divided into two: the first group underwent strength training at a fast muscle contraction rate with 80 bpm, while the second group trained at a normal muscle contraction rate with 40 bpm. The training lasted for 8 weeks, and after a 2-week post-training period, both groups were tested by swapping strength training programs. They were tested for 400-meter speed, strength from finding the 1 RM of Leg curl, Leg extension, and Leg press measured in kilograms, and explosive power from Squat jump, Countermovement jump, and Long jump. The data collected was analyzed to find the average, standard deviation, and one-way ANOVA with a statistical significance level set at .05. From the research's results, it was found that percentage change muscle contraction rates differs significantly between the two strength training formats: one with fast muscle contraction and the other with normal- muscle contraction rate (1.04±0.02 and 1.02±0.02, respectively) at a significance level of .05. Additionally, the strength and explosive power percentage change also significantly differ between the two strength training formats. Therefore, based on this study, it is possible to utilize the fast muscle contraction rate strength training format to enhance the athletic performance of athletes.

Athletics is still a male-dominated sport: the underrepresentation of women as athletes, coaches, and referees in Brazil

Gender inequality remains a pervasive issue in sports, attracting increasing attention in contemporary research. Despite this, scant scholarly focus has been directed towards the participation of women in athletics. This study sought to investigate the involvement of women as athletes, coaches, and referees across various age categories and events within the Brazilian Athletics Championship 2019. We assessed publicly available data from the championship, specifically the number of women in these roles. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Chi-Square test for association estimation, and one sample t-tests for mean frequency comparisons. The level of significance was set at p&lt;0.05. Our findings revealed no significant association between event type and age category, indicating a similar frequency of female athlete participation across different events and age groups. Notably, the average participation of women as athletes (42%) and coaches (19%) was statistically below the 50% threshold (t=4.595, p&lt;0.001; t=25.00, p&lt;0.001, respectively). Women represented 41% of the referees and did not show a significant difference to 50% (t=2.973, p=0.058). There was a significant association between gender and sport position with a higher participation of women as athletes and referees compared to coaches. In this study we show that, although there is a movement towards quantitative equality, women are still underrepresented as athletes, coaches, and referees in athletics, emphasizing the imperative for investment in sports policies, sports programs development geared towards fostering gender equality in athletics practices, and a qualitative comprehension of the challenges and barriers these professionals face. Keywords: Gender; social justice; sport psychology; sport management; leadership

Psychological Impact of Competitive Stress on Female Athletes: A Review

Psychological Impact of Competitive Stress on Female Athletes: A Review

ENERGY AND MACRONUTRIENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FEMALE SOCCER ATHLETES: WHAT SPORT PRACTITIONERS MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO KNOW

Female soccer sport is recently gaining popularity across the world. However, there remains little research on nutritional recommendations devoted to this group. This can pose a challenge for sports and health practitioners when conducting interventions in this group. A few authors suggested nutritional recommendations for energy and macronutrients close or similar to those used in males, usually around 7 – 12 g/kg/day for carbohydrates, 1.2 -1.7 g/kg/day for protein, 0.5 – 1 g/kg/day for fat and different resting energy expenditure formulas for energy. Still, these recommendations have not been made quite clear or at least emphasized for use amongst female soccer athletes, including the timing of these macronutrients before, during, and after training or competition. Noting the physiological and body composition differences between males and females, this review aims to explore available nutritional recommendations for female athletes so that they, coaches, and sports practitioners have a clear guide for adherence during training and intervention sessions.

ASSESSMENT OF 16-YEAR-OLD FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS WITH CHRONOJUMP SYSTEM

In the basketball game, lower extremity strength plays a key role in various game actions. The jumping mat (Chronojump), an open-source (free software and open hardware), is available to the public on official servers, emphasizing peer review and corrections by the user community. The aim of this study was to establish the explosive power of the lower limbs of 16-year-old female basketball players from the Bulgarian National Basketball Team. We used specialized software, a signal transducer, and an electro-contact mat Chronojump. The subject of the study was the explosive power of the lower limbs of 16-year-old female basketball players from the national team of Bulgaria. The object of the study was the performance of the Chronojump platform tests to establish the explosive strength of the lower limbs. The study was conducted among 16 active female basketball players selected for the Bulgarian national team. Each participant performed all jumps at the same time of day. They performed CMJ - 90-degree squat jump; SJ - Squat, two-second hold, and jump; CMJAT - Jump with arms extended forward and up; RCMJ - Manipulative 90-degree squat jump; Stiff ness - Manipulative ankle jump. The test’s mathematical-statistical results were processed with variance analysis and One-way ANOVA, with a critical value of the F-criterion (F = 2.38) and high statistical reliability (Pt ≥ 95%). Results showed that hand involvement is key in rebounding. In terms of jumping endurance and explosiveness quotient, female athletes had a lower level of development. This research has the potential to significantly impact the training and performance of female basketball players.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Implications for Hydration Testing in Combat Sports-Investigating Body Mass Loss and Biomarker Changes.

Combat sports athletes often undergo rapid body mass loss (BML), which presents health risks. Hydration testing has been proposed as a possible solution to reduce or eliminate rapid BML. However, combat sports athletes may exhibit distinct physiological characteristics due to repeated exposure to BML. Thus, traditional and emerging hydration biomarkers should be investigated to determine their potential suitability for field use in this cohort. This study examined whether BML can explain changes in serum and urine osmolality (SosmΔ, UosmΔ), tear osmolarity (TosmΔ), hematocrit (HctΔ), and urine-specific gravity (USGΔ) after mild-moderate passive dehydration. Biomarker reliability was also assessed across two trials. Fifteen male and female combat sports athletes (age: 26.3 ± 5.3 years, body mass: 67.7 ± 9.9 kg) underwent a sauna protocol twice (5-28 days apart) aiming for 4% BML. The average BML in Trials 1 and 2 was 3.0 ± 0.7%. Regression analysis revealed that BML explained HctΔ (R2 = 0.22, p = 0.009) but not SosmΔ (R2 = 0.11, p = 0.079) or other biomarkers. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were significant for all biomarkers except TosmΔ (ICC = 0.06, p = 0.37) and post-Tosm (ICC = 0.04, p = 0.42); post-Hct performed best (ICC = 0.82, p < 0.001). Contingency tables with post-Sosm (295 mOsm/kg) and post-USG (1.020) cutoffs revealed an 80% true negative rate (TNR) and a 62% true positive rate (TPR). Increasing the Sosm cutoff to 301 mOsm/kg decreased the TNR to 52% but increased the TPR to 83%. Although blood parameters were most sensitive to BML, they could only explain 11%-22% of biomarker variation. The typical USG cutoff misclassified 42% of athletes postdehydration, and reliability was generally poor-moderate. Alternative strategies should be pursued to manage rapid BML in combat sports.

Sex Differences in Physiological Responses to a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Soccer Season.

McFadden, BA, Walker, AJ, Cintineo, HP, Bozzini, BN, Sanders, DJ, Chandler, AJ, and Arent, SM. Sex differences in physiological responses to a national collegiate athletic association division I soccer season. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Identifying physiological changes that occur in response to workload demands can help to elucidate athlete management and recovery strategies. The purpose of this study was to compare the physical and physiological demands between men and women throughout the course of a collegiate soccer season. Men (N = 23) and women (N = 26) soccer players participated in blood draws before preseason (T1) and every 4 weeks thereafter (T2-T4). Workload was determined at all practices and games via heart rate and global positioning satellite monitoring systems. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance and linear mixed models were used to assess workload and biomarker responses throughout the season (p < 0.05). Both teams experienced the highest workloads during the first 4 weeks of the season (p < 0.05), which was followed by several biomarker perturbations. Sex-by-Time interactions were observed for total cortisol, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, vitamin D, and omega 3 fatty acid index (p < 0.05). Additional Sex effects were observed for free and total testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, sex-hormone binding globulin, creatine kinase, and iron levels (p < 0.05). Women soccer players experienced further Time effects for free cortisol, iron, ferritin, and percent transferrin saturation (p < 0.05). Male soccer players experienced additional Time effects for total testosterone, estrogen, creatine kinase, interleukin-6, triiodothyronine, and ferritin (p < 0.05). Despite similar patterns of change in workloads, differential fluctuations in physiological markers were observed between the sexes. Understanding sex differences in response to comparable workloads may enhance exercise prescriptions for better athlete management plans. Additional strategies to increase iron may be warranted in female athletes.

Predicting 1 Repetition Maximum Squat With Peak Force Obtained From Isometric Squat at Multiple Positions.

Tan, WZN and Lum, D. Predicting 1 repetition maximum squat with peak force obtained from isometric squat at multiple positions. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): 1543-1550, 2024-This study investigated whether the use of peak force (PF) obtained from multiple joint positions during isometric squat (IsoSqt) can predict of 1-repetition maximum (1RM) squat with high precision. Twenty-nine male and female resistance-trained athletes (age = 23.0 ± 3.7 years, height = 1.57 ± 0.06 m, body mass = 56.6 ± 9.1 kg, 1RM squat = 104.6 ± 24.2) performed the 1RM squat, and IsoSqt at 60°, 90°, and 120° knee angles on 3 separate occasions. Peak force obtained from IsoSqt at all positions significantly correlated with 1RM squat ( r = 0.684-0.940, p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis based on group data showed r2 = 0.903, based on male data only, r2 = 0.826, and based on female data only, r2 = 0.855. Predicted 1RM squat using linear regression equations based on group, male-only, and female-only data showed nonsignificant differences of 0.02-0.6% from actual 1RM squat ( p = 0.812-0.947, 95% CI = -8.00 to 10.08), with error of estimate of 1.5-2.3%. In addition, Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean bias of -1.04 to 0.35 kg, 95% CI = -10.08 to 8.00 kg. The results showed that using PF obtained from IsoSqt at multiple positions was able to predict 1RM squat with low difference from actual 1RM squat. Furthermore, using linear regression equation derived from gender-specific data was able to predict 1RM squat with higher precision than that based on group data.

A Comprehensive Analysis of 10-Yard Sprint Reliability in Male and Female Youth Athletes.

Wannouch, YJ, Leahey, SR, Whitworth-Turner, CM, Oliver, JL, YH, KC, Laffer, JC, and Leicht, AS. A comprehensive analysis of 10-yard sprint reliability in male and female youth athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): e477-e488, 2024-This study investigates the inter-week test-retest reliability of 9.14 meter (10 yard) sprint times in youth athletes. Although essential for assessing athletic ability and training efficacy, the critical and comprehensive examination of both relative and absolute reliability indices for short-distance sprints has been insufficient in youth contexts. One hundred ninety-eight youth athletes (128 males and 70 females) underwent 2 sprint attempts across 2 separate trials 24 hours apart and within 7 days of each other. The sprints were measured using dual-beam timing gates to capture split times for 0-4.57 meter (0-5 yards), 4.57-9.14 meter (5-10 yards), and 0-9.14 meter (0-10 yards). The minimal mean difference between the best sprint times across trials was 0.02 ± 0.13 seconds for males and 0.003 ± 0.14 seconds for females. No significant mean differences were found between trials for either gender (males: p = 0.0875; females: p = 0.8752), suggesting no systematic bias in sprint times. The SEM was 0.092 seconds for males and 0.099 seconds for females, with a corresponding SEMCV% of 4.6 and 4.8%. The overall coefficient of variation was 9.8% for males and 8.9% for females. Intraclass correlation coefficient values suggested that the sprint times across trials were reliable (males: 0.80; females: 0.76). The minimal detectable change was 0.25 seconds for males, 0.27 seconds for females. Cohen's d indicated trivial effects (<0.2) for males (0.154) and females (0.021). Minimal mean differences, a low SEM , and consistent ICC values demonstrate that the 0-9.14 meter sprint is a reliable assessment in youth athletes.

Tangled and Bumpy Roads to Gender Equity: Socio-Cultural Insights from Media Stories About Olympic Athletes and Motherhood

With the 2024 Olympic Games touted as reaching gender parity (i.e., same number of female and male athletes participating), media conversations are continuing about elite athlete mothers. Researchers interrogating media stories of Olympic athlete mothers have shown that their sporting journeys are not straightforward due to tensions linked to gender (in)equity. In this paper we use narrative inquiry as a theoretical lens to explore “comeback themes” synthesized from published media studies of Olympic athlete mothers, along with recent examples of media stories of Olympic athlete mothers. We discuss four comeback themes that include: (in)compatible identities, super mums, veteran status/age, and exposing discrimination, and some implications for gender equity. The first three comebacks perpetuate gender ideologies of heteronormative femininity, good motherhood, ageism, and exceptionalism, which downplay equitable support and change. These themes, along with the exposing discrimination theme, also highlight shifting media representations of motherhood and sport whereby stories expose struggles, realities, and/or structural deficits. We reflect on these themes as a “tangled and bumpy road” to gender equity led by athlete mothers’ voices resulting in changes in maternity rights. These comeback themes show gains in gender equity for sportswomen and highlight areas where more work is needed. Future research recommendations include studying mainstream and social media spaces with an intersectional lens to expand understanding of media stories as pedagogical resources to learn more about motherhood, sport, and gender (in)equity.

Relationship of Vitamin D Status with Biomarkers of Muscle Damage and Body Composition in Spanish Elite Female Football Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Recently, there has been a growing interest in relation to the female athlete, especially in widespread disciplines such as football. Concerns about vitamin D deficiency status have recently been considered due to its effects on the performance and health status of female footballers. However, its relationship to body composition and muscle damage in female football athletes remains unclear to date. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the association of the vitamin D status of Spanish elite female football players with anthropometric variables and markers of muscle damage. Ethical consent was obtained from a total of 21 players from a Spanish elite women’s football team (20–33 years). Anthropometric analysis was carried out according to the standardised protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kineanthropometry (ISAK). The clinical analyses, based on urine and blood samples, were carried out by the club’s medical staff at the start of the season in the early morning in a fasting state. The athletes were also asked about the regularity of their menstrual cycle and some dietary habits. Thirty-three percent of the female athletes had vitamin D levels below the reference values. Significantly higher FM values were observed in athletes with low vitamin D status (p &lt; 0.05), as well as statistically significant negative correlations between vitamin D levels and FM (p &lt; 0.05) in the group of female players with vitamin D levels below the baseline values. No significant associations were observed between markers of muscle damage and the other variables. Complementing an assessment of body composition with a biochemical analysis of vitamin D levels may be an interesting strategy in the process of monitoring the elite female football player throughout the season.

Influence of Body Weight Measurement Frequency on the Bone Health of Female Athletes

ABSTRACT Purpose: Athletes struggle with bone stress injuries despite the many risk factors reported in previous studies. However, the relationship between body weight measurement frequency and risk of stress fractures has yet to be investigated. Thus, the purpose of this study is to seek the link between body weight measurement frequency and the occurrence of stress fractures. Method: This cross-sectional study included female athletes who were requested to fill out an anonymous online survey regarding their personal background, including the history of amenorrhea and stress fractures. In addition, the frequency at which they measured their body weight and composition and whether they had to report the same to their coaches and seniors were asked. Results: A total of 172 collegiate female athletes for 28 different types of sports participated in this study. Among the included athletes, 35.7% had a history of amenorrhea, whereas 29.7% had a history of stress fractures. A total of 57.0% of the athletes answered that in their team, they measure their body weight on a regular basis, and 33.1% of the athletes answered that they reported the data to their coaches. Logistic regression analysis revealed that those who measured their body weight at least once a day had a higher risk of sustaining stress fractures than did those who measured their body weight less than once a day (OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.06–5.27, p = .04). Conclusion: Body weight measurement frequency was associated with the risk of stress fractures in female collegiate athletes.

The Essential and Optimal Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Medicines for Athletes at the Olympic Games

BackgroundIn 2019, the International Olympic Committee published the first Olympic and Paralympic Model Formulary (OPF), which defined the standardised set of medications required at every Olympic and Paralympic Games for the treatment of athletes. This study aimed to test the OPF to determine whether it meets the clinical needs of the athlete population with respect to medications used for pain and/or inflammation (PI), and to present a revised set of essential PI medications for the OPF based on prevalence of athlete use. Medication-use data of athletes at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Games (n = 6155) from three sources were used to establish prevalence of PI medicine use and to revise the OPF: (i) doping control forms, (ii) pharmacy dispensing reports, and (iii) injection declaration forms. This revised list was further validated through (iv) medication importation declarations by teams (n = 156), and (v) survey of team physicians (n = 382).ResultsOverall prevalence of PI medication use was 36.7%, with higher use by female athletes (female: 44.1%; male: 30.0%; p < 0.001), with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs being the most used class (27%). Use of medications with safety risks were identified, including nimesulide, piroxicam and metamizole. A revised list of 48 PI medications was recommended for the OPF.ConclusionThe research led to a revised set of essential medications for the treatment of pain and inflammation to be available for athletes at the Olympic Games, which would lead to a 7% improvement in the numbers of athletes who could have their exact PI medication requirements met by the OPF.