Female Collegiate Research Articles

Energy Availability in Female Collegiate Beach Volleyball Athletes.

Willingham, BD, Daou, M, VanArsdale, J, Thomas, M, and Saracino, PG. Energy availability in female collegiate beach volleyball athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(11): 1941-1950, 2024-Low energy availability (LEA) is a present risk for many female athletes. Yet, the literature on LEA is often reliant on single, short-term, snapshots, which may not be reflective of the chronic energy balance surrounding female athletes in sport. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish the current prevalence of LEA in female collegiate beach volleyball athletes during the preseason and across the competitive season. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare measures of EA (i.e., dietary intake, activity energy expenditure [EE], body composition) and EE (i.e., resting metabolic rate and thermic effect of feeding) at 4 timepoints-once in the preseason (i.e., Fall), and 3 times across the 10-week competitive season in Spring (i.e., week 1, week 5, and week 9). Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Although mean EA was in the subclinical zone (i.e., 30-45 kcal·kg FFM-1·d-1) at each timepoint, the prevalence of LEA for individuals was 30.8% in the preseason, 37.5% at week 1, 25.0% at week 5, and 62.5% at week 9. Further, carbohydrate intake was below the recommended range for power athletes at each timepoint, suggesting that female beach volleyball athletes with LEA may benefit from increasing carbohydrate intake. Despite no statistical differences in body mass across the season (p = 0.577), there was a trend for increasing fat-free mass (p = 0.062) as the season progressed. Importantly, LEA is not a team-wide condition but an individual one. Therefore, approaches to mitigate LEA should be individualized.

The Relationship Between Dance Training Volume, Body Composition, and Habitual Diet in Female Collegiate Dancers: The Intercollegiate Artistic Athlete Research Assessment (TIAARA) Study.

This study's purpose was to evaluate the relationship between dance training volume, body composition, and habitual diet in female collegiate dancers. Thirty-three female collegiate dancers from three dance programs (20.4 ± 1.05 yrs.; 165.4 ± 11.3 cm, BMI 21.3 ± 3.4 kg/m2) participated in "The Intercollegiate Artistic Athlete Research Assessment (TIAARA)" study. We assessed dance training volume, body composition, and habitual diet. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means ± SD). Two-sample t-tests were conducted to compare reported intake values versus sports nutrition recommendations. Two-tailed Pearson correlations (r) were computed for body composition and dietary intake (p < 0.05). Collegiate dancers were enrolled in 16 ± 2.09 semester credits, with 7.7 ± 3.8 credits as dance movement courses and an additional 3.0 ± 1.5 h/week of rehearsal time. Body composition assessments included fat mass (24.4 ± 6.8%), lean mass (LM) (42.4 ± 10.1 kg), and total body water (32.6 ± 4.6 L). Habitual diets reflected a low-calorie diet (1399 ± 648 kcal/d), with ~20% of dancers consuming a very low-calorie diet (≤1000 kcal/d). Dancers reported under-consuming dietary protein (54.3 ± 26.2 g) and carbohydrate (171.8 ± 77.8 g). LM was positively correlated with daily total energy (r = 0.333), fat (r = 0.37), protein (r = 0.349), and leucine intake (r = 0.352). Our findings emphasize the positive effect of adequate nutritional quantity and quality on body composition in female collegiate dancers.

Characterizing the Effects of Concussion and Head Impact Exposure: Design, Methods, and Participant Traits of the CARE 2.0 Study.

This article describes the design, methods, and participant characteristics of the second phase of the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium study ("CARE 2.0") of the effects of concussion and repetitive head impact exposure on neuropsychiatric health. The authors conducted a prospective multisite observational study of male and female collegiate athletes and military service academy cadets and midshipmen participating in the CARE study. Participants were assessed at three time points: undergraduate baseline (UB), before departure from university or service academy (exit), and up to 6 years following graduation (postgrad) via an online battery of brain health assessments. Participant characteristics were compared across the three time points and four levels of head impact exposure. A total of 4,643 participants completed the exit assessment, and 3,981 completed the postgrad assessment. Relative to the UB assessment cohort, the exit and postgrad assessment cohorts differed with respect to the percentage of women, baseline Wechsler Test of Adult Reading scores, National Collegiate Athletic Association division category, sport contact level, and number of previous concussions. The median standardized difference across balancing variables, assessment time points, and degree of head impact exposure was 0.12 (with 90% of effect sizes ≤0.29). Although there were some statistically significant differences between participants across assessments, the effect sizes were modest, and overall the data suggest that the exit and postgrad cohorts reflect the characteristics of the baseline cohort. The CARE study design and its large, richly characterized sample provide an opportunity to answer important questions about cumulative and persistent effects of concussion and repetitive head impact exposure on neuropsychiatric health.

Low Energy Availability Risk Is Associated with Anxiety in Female Collegiate Athletes.

This study investigated the association between the risk of low energy availability, disordered eating, and anxiety in collegiate female athletes. Female athletes (n = 115) completed questionnaires that assessed disordered eating (Disordered Eating Screen for Athletes, DESA-6; and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short, EDE-QS), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and the risk of low energy availability (Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire; LEAF-Q). The athletes were 19.9 ± 0.1 years old and presented with no anxiety (14.8%), mild (33.0%), moderate (24.3%), and severe (27.8%) anxiety. The EDE-QS scores revealed that 22.6% of the participants had a high risk of an eating disorder, while the DESA-6 scores revealed that 31.3% of the participants scored positive for a risk of disordered eating. The LEAF-Q total scores revealed that 68.7% of the participants were at risk of low energy availability. Increased GAD-7 scores were associated (p < 0.001) with measures of disordered eating (EDE-QS and DESA-6) and the risk of low energy availability (LEAF-Q total score). Non-parametric partial correlations demonstrated that anxiety (increased GAD-7 scores) correlated with the risk of low energy availability (increased LEAF-Q total scores) while controlling for eating disorder scores (EDE-QS) (r (112) = 0.353, p < 0.001), or while controlling for the risk of disordered eating (DESA-6 scores) (r (112) = 0.349, p < 0.001). In female collegiate athletes, both disordered eating and the risk of low energy availability were positively associated with increased anxiety.

The Effect of Education on the Hydration Status of Female Collegiate Dancers at Southern Utah University

The Effect of Education on the Hydration Status of Female Collegiate Dancers at Southern Utah University

Acute Effects of High-intensity Circuit Training Using Body Weight on Body Composition Indices in Sedentary Collegiate Females

High-intensity circuit training (HICT) has become increasingly popular for enhancing health and fitness. However, limited research exists on the effects of high-intensity circuit training using body weight (HICTBW) on body composition in sedentary young adults. This study aimed to explore the impact of a 4-week HICTBW program on body composition in sedentary collegiate females. A randomized controlled trial design was employed. Twenty sedentary collegiate females were randomly assigned to either a training group (n=10), which participated in a 4-week HICTBW program, or a control group (n=10), which did not engage in any training. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (r = 0.642 to 0.78), measuring body fat percentage, fat mass, muscle mass, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index (BMI). Repeated measure ANOVA was used to compare between and within groups. Although no significant differences in body composition variables were observed between pre- and post-training (p&amp;gt;0.05), slight positive changes were noted in all measured parameters. The lack of significant findings may be attributed to the short duration and frequency of the intervention. Future studies with extended training periods are recommended to better understand the potential impact of HICTBW on body composition in sedentary collegiate females. This research highlights the need for more comprehensive studies to validate the effectiveness of HICTBW in improving body composition among this population.

Individual Factors in Young Female Athletes' Bladder Health (the Y-FAB Study).

Bladder health in high school and collegiate females is not well understood. The objective of this study was to compare toileting behaviors, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), and fluid intake in female athletes and nonathletes. English-speaking nulliparous females aged 13-23 years were recruited. Participants completed the Toileting Behaviors: Women's Elimination Behaviors Scale, Bristol Female LUTS Questionnaire, and Beverage Questionnaire. Statistical analysis included univariable analyses and multivariable comparisons of athletes to nonathletes adjusting for age and fluid intake. One hundred athletes and 98 nonathletes participated (mean age 20 ± 2, mean body mass index 23 ± 4). Athletes' sports were predominantly high impact. Dysmenorrhea and anxiety were higher in nonathletes (P < 0.01) versus more stress fractures in athletes (P < 0.001). Problematic toileting behaviors were prevalent regardless of athletic status; nonathletes were more likely to hold urine until home and empty away from home without the urge (both P = 0.04). Lower urinary tract symptoms were prevalent regardless of athletic status, including frequency (34.2%), hesitancy (33.3%), urgency (32.8%), stress incontinence (15.3%), and urgency incontinence (11.8%). Athletes had significantly more stress incontinence and urgency and higher incontinence subscores on univariable analysis, although the difference was attenuated after multivariable adjustment. Athletes consumed lower total fluids (P = 0.03). Problematic toileting behaviors and LUTSs were prevalent in high school and collegiate females, regardless of athletic status. Athletes had higher stress urinary incontinence and urgency and lower fluid intake. These findings support future work toward enhancing early bladder health interventions (screening, education, and LUTS prevention) among high school and collegiate females.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Female Collegiate Athletes at a Division I Institution

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is widely underdiagnosed in female college athletes and may limit their athletic performance. Routine screening is necessary to identify potential female athletes who might benefit from iron supplementation. A retrospective study on the prevalence of iron deficiency in female collegiate division I athletes is imperative to bring awareness to the prevailing problem. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in female athletes presenting to a Division 1 Athletic Training Room for initial health screening evaluation from January 2017 to July 2022. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for female athletes who presented for initial pre-participation examination health screening to a Division 1 Athletic Training Room The data collected included the patients’ age, BMI, menstrual history, ferritin, and hemoglobin lab values. The primary sports analyzed was swim and dive, soccer, basketball, track and field/cross country, softball, lacrosse, volleyball, high tech, tennis, golf, and cheerleading. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the prevalence of iron deficiency among female athletes and the Student’s t-test and Pearson correlation analysis are used to identify any potential risk factors for iron deficiency. RESULTS: There was a total of 336 participants. The prevalence of athletes with low initial ferritin values under 40 ng/mL at pre-participation examination was 194 (57.74%, n=336). The mean ferritin value at pre-participation examination was 43.18 ng/mL (n=336). Statistical analysis of the other variables collected in this study including body mass index, menstrual history and primary sport showed no significant differences in relationship to initial ferritin levels. Female athletes with low ferritin levels were more likely to receive iron supplementation (p=8.089e-18, 95% CI= -31.33142, -20.19980). An increase in ferritin levels was correlated with iron supplementation (p=0.0217, 95% CI= 1.45825, 18.34014) and hemoglobin levels were higher in female athletes with higher ferritin levels (p-value=0.04971, 95% CI=0.00546, 0.14506). Initial ferritin levels were positively correlated with hemoglobin levels (p=2.402e-11, 95% CI=0.26962, 0.46399). Statistical analysis showed an increase in ferritin levels with usage of contraception (p=0.0073, 95% CI= 3.15448, 20.05362). CONCLUSION: This study’s findings represent the importance of screening ferritin levels in all female collegiate athletes regardless of sport, BMI, or menstrual history due to the high prevalence of low ferritin values. There was an increase in ferritin levels with usage of birth control suggesting the need to further evaluate the impact of menstrual history and contraception usage on ferritin and hemoglobin levels. In these authors experience, it is uncommon for institutions to incorporate routine screening measures in place for screening all female athletes with a ferritin value and complete blood count at initial pre-participation examination.

Educational Intervention Improves Female Athlete Triad Awareness in Female Collegiate Swimmers

Introduction: The Female Athlete Triad (Triad) is characterized by high energy expenditure and low caloric intake, leading to dysregulation of menstruation and bone metabolism. Triad-associated relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) adversely affects performance and mental health. Risk factors are underrecognized in swimmers, who are less likely to present with bone stress injuries because of swimming’s non-weightbearing nature. Our objective was to quantify knowledge about the Triad and REDs among collegiate swimmers and demonstrate the value of educational intervention. Methods: Members of two Division III women’s varsity swim teams completed a Qualtrics survey, consisting of 35 Triad and REDs questions, and 13 demographics questions. Participants then attended an in-person, 20-minute educational session focused on Triad risk factors and prevention, after which they completed a post-session survey. The post-session survey contained 13 additional questions using a Likert scale, where 1=Strongly Agree and 5=Strongly Disagree. Pre- and post-session data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results: Thirty-one swimmers were included. Pre-session, 9.7% of respondents named one or more Triad components, compared to 96.8% after (p&lt;0.0001). 9.7% could define the REDs acronym pre-session, compared to 87.1% after (p&lt;0.0001). Participants better understood the Triad post-session (mean Likert score=1.23) and found the session helpful (mean=1.23), but in a hypothetical scenario, felt relatively uncomfortable contacting medical staff about Triad symptoms (mean=1.87, p=0.0002). Of the 35.5% who believed they may be experiencing Triad components, 72.7% indicated the session motivated them to seek help. Conclusions: Female collegiate swimmers’ low baseline Triad and REDs knowledge improved significantly after an educational intervention. Survey responses highlighted the importance of heightened Triad awareness, but also its continued stigmatization. The session encouraged swimmers with self-identified Triad symptoms to seek help, underscoring the importance of continued education efforts, especially in sports where the Triad is underrecognized.

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.

Poster 320: Combined Role of Tibial Cartilage Slope, Knee Laxity, and Lower Extremity Strength as Risk Factors for First-Time, Noncontact ACL Injury in Female Athletes

Objectives: Univariable analyses of knee geometry, anteroposterior (AP) laxity, and muscular strength have revealed associations with risk of first-time, noncontact ACL injury in females. However, multivariable analyses assessing the risk associated with combinations of these factors have been limited. As a result, it is unclear how these factors act interdependently to exacerbate or attenuate risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the risk of first-time, noncontact ACL injury associated with pairwise combinations of factors related to geometry, laxity, and strength. Methods: First-time, noncontact ACL injury events were identified as they occurred in 61 female high school and collegiate athletes over a four-year period. Simultaneously, 61 sex- and age-matched control subjects, with no history of lower extremity injury, were selected from the same team. Magnetic resonance imaging was acquired bilaterally, and articular geometries were obtained. On contralateral, uninjured case and control knees, AP knee translation was measured using a KT-2000 arthrometer, knee flexion strength was measured with a Biodex System 2, and hip adduction strength was measured using a fixated, isometric dynamometer. Six features were considered: (1) slope of the lateral tibial plateau articular cartilage not covered by meniscus (“middle cartilage slope”) and (2) covered by the posterior horn of the meniscus (“posterior cartilage slope”), (3) AP translation of the tibia relative to the femur, (4) posterior stiffness, (5) knee flexion strength, and (6) hip adduction strength. First, each feature was compared between cases and controls using Student’s t-test (α = 0.05). Next, the features were used to build a generalized additive model with two pairwise interactions, with ACL injury as the dependent variable. Univariable relationships between each feature and absolute risk of ACL injury, as well as pairwise interaction effects, were inspected with partial dependence plots, which describe the (potentially nonlinear) shape of those associations. Absolute risk was defined as the change in probability of experiencing an ACL injury associated with varying values of each feature, accounting for the average effect of all other features. For example, an absolute risk value of 0.2 signifies a 20% increase in absolute risk. Results: Compared to their uninjured teammates, injured athletes had greater middle cartilage slope (0.6° ± 3.8° vs. -3.8° ± 4.2°, p &lt; 0.001) and greater posterior cartilage slope (13.3° ± 6.3° vs. 8.5° ± 5.5°, p &lt; 0.001) of the lateral tibial plateau. Injured subjects also had greater AP laxity (15.0 ± 3.0 mm vs. 13.6 ± 2.4 mm, p = 0.006) than uninjured controls. Partial dependence plots for each of the six features show associations with absolute risk (Figure 1). The two pairwise interaction effects identified were lateral middle cartilage slope with hip adduction strength (Figure 2) and lateral posterior cartilage slope with AP translation (Figure 3). The first revealed that the increase in risk associated with increasing middle tibial cartilage slope was larger in athletes with decreased hip adduction strength (and smaller in athletes with increased hip adduction strength). The second revealed that the increase in risk associated with increasing posterior tibial cartilage slope was larger in athletes with increased AP translation (and smaller in athletes with decreased AP translation). Conclusions: In this cohort of high school and collegiate female athletes, the model revealed two important interactions among lateral tibial cartilage slope, hip adduction strength, and knee laxity. Increased hip adduction strength and decreased AP translation both acted in combination to decrease risk of first-time, noncontact ACL injury in athletes with greater cartilage slope. The risk associated with increased middle cartilage slope may be reduced in athletes with greater hip adduction strength (Figure 2). This could be explained by an increase in femoral stability with stronger muscular forces. Moreover, clinicians should pay close attention to patients presenting with increased AP translation and greater posterior cartilage slope, as these features interacted to exacerbate risk of injury in our cohort (Figure 3). Conversely, decreased AP translation may stabilize the knee in the presence of greater posterior cartilage slope, reducing the risk associated with this geometry. In assessing risk of first-time, noncontact ACL injury, lateral tibial cartilage slope measurements should be considered in conjunction with laxity- and strength-related factors. [Figure: see text][Figure: see text][Figure: see text]

Poster 397: Orthopaedic Injury Analysis Among Male and Female High School and Collegiate Aged Soccer Players Presenting to United States Emergency Departments

Objectives: Soccer is the second most played sport in America by participation, with upwards of 12 million players nationally in 2018. A majority of those athletes are adolescents and young adults, with 71% of players falling between the ages of 6 and 24. This study aimed to determine if any injury profile differences exist in the intra- and post-COVID eras between male and female soccer players in both high school and college. Methods: Deidentified Emergency Department data for the years 2020-2022 were queried using the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (CPSC NEISS). The raw data was further stratified for a high school age range of 13-17 and a college age range of 18-24. Each of these age ranges were filtered for diagnosis codes 52, 55, 57, and 64 correlating with concussions, dislocations, fractures, and sprains/strains, respectively. The location filter was set to code 9 for a location of sports and recreation. Using the narrative filter, the resultant cases were limited to those that mentioned “soccer”. The identified patient data for each year was collated for total case counts. A Test of Equal Proportions with a Yates Continuity Correction was performed to compare the rate of individual and categorized injuries by sex within each age range and within the same sex between age groups. Results: There were 693, 1371, and 1524 injuries in 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively, for a total of 3588 injuries. Using statistical weights, this translated to a national estimate of 88,576 soccer-related injuries over that timeframe. Categorically, in each of the three years, males had a higher proportion of fractures when compared to females in the 13-17 age range (p&lt;0.001), while the high school aged females sustained a significantly higher proportion of concussions and sprains/strains (p&lt;0.001). Per specific injury, males experienced a greater rate of clavicular, isolated radial, wrist, nonspecific forearm, finger, and nonspecific lower leg fractures than females aged 13-17 (p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.027, p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.025, p&lt;0.029). Conversely, high school aged females were diagnosed with knee and ankle sprains/strains at a higher rate than their male counterparts (p&lt;0.012, p&lt;0.001). There were no significant injury profile differences between college aged male and female soccer athletes. When comparing high school versus college aged males, those in the 13-17 group experienced a larger rate of fractures and concussions, while those in the 18-24 group experienced a greater proportion of dislocations and sprains/strains (p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.037, p&lt;0.004, p&lt;0.001). College aged males were diagnosed with higher rates of shoulder dislocations, skull fractures, finger fractures, knee sprains/strains, and ankle sprains/strains when compared to their younger counterparts (p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.007, p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.05). On the other hand, high school aged male soccer players proportionally sustained more isolated radial, nonspecific forearm, wrist, and pelvic fractures (p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.002, p&lt;0.002). The only significant difference between high school and college aged females were higher rates of concussions in the 13-17 age group, whereas 18-24 year olds experienced a larger proportion of skull fractures (p&lt;0.01, p&lt;0.01). Conclusions: Since 2020, high school aged males experienced a significantly higher rate of fractures, whereas their female counterparts sustained a larger proportion of concussions and sprains/strains. Within males across all age ranges, higher rates of concussions and fractures were found in adolescents, whereas college males were more often diagnosed with dislocations and sprains/strains. Within females across all ages, high school soccer players experienced a larger proportion of concussions, while college players were diagnosed with a higher rate of skull fractures. Injury profiles between males and females soccer players in college showed no significant differences. Current literature surrounding age and skill-level based soccer injury profiling is limited, with most data reflective of the previous two decades. Our findings allow for insight on the intra- and post-COVID athlete, highlighting potential areas for injury prevention based on sex and age, while underscoring injuries of high clinical suspicion commonly seen in soccer players presenting to US emergency departments.

Female Collegiate Gymnasts’ Perceptions and Beliefs on Preventative Training Programs

Gymnastics has the highest injury rate of all women’s collegiate sports, most occurring to the lower extremity. Preventative training programs (PTPs) effectively reduce lower-extremity injury rates. This study aimed to determine the perceptions and beliefs of female collegiate gymnasts regarding PTPs. Participants reported that they would be more likely to participate in a PTP if it resulted in fewer injury risk factors (p &lt; .001), less likely to suffer an anterior cruciate ligament injury (p &lt; .001), and fewer leg injuries (p &lt; .001). Marketing and education of PTPs should be targeted and focus on what is most important to stakeholders to increase compliance.

An investigation on sex-based disparities in male and female collegiate athlete reactive strength index

Reactive strength is the ability to effectively use a fast stretch shortening cycle (SSC) with the eccentric into a concentric contraction (Rebelo et al., 2022, Healthcare, 10, 593). A fast SSC is determined to be &lt;200 ms due to a preliminary study by (Schmidtbleicher &amp; Komi, 1992, Encyclopedia Sports Med. Vol. 3 Strength and Power in Sport) reviewing muscular contractions. Reactive strength is determined through two different metrics used within the literature which are ground contact time (GCT) and jump height (JH) allowing for understanding on how an athlete can utilise the myotatic reflex to react with the floor. Reactive Strength Index (RSI) is typically measured via drop jump (DJ) and 10/5 reactive pogo jumps. A novel way to measure RSI is via a rebound countermovement jump (RCMJ) which utilises RSI-Modified and includes time to take off instead of ground contact time. RSI is an important metric to measure because it has implications within sport-specific metrics like sprinting and jumping (Jarvis et al., 2022, Sports Med, 52, 301-330). However, some of the limitations of RSI are it is a ratio metric, and therefore RSI can mask underpinning metrics. As a result, additional metrics such as such a force, velocity and power can help better understand athlete development and the underpinning key performance indicators. However, many metrics within reactive jumps remain unsearched. Data will be collected from around 16 university athletes aged 18-25 currently competing in sport with at least one year’s experience in resistance training. Data will be collected using Hawkins dynamic force plates, sampling at 1000 Hz, and has recently been reported to be valid and reliable (Badby et al., 2023, Sports, 23, 4820) Participants will be asked to complete 3 DJ, RCMJ and 10/5 jump trials on two separate occasions separated by a minimum of 48 hours. Athletes will be instructed to perform a quiet standing period for 1 second before and after each jump to calculate body weight by the 5 × standard deviation method. Therefore, the study aims to compare the disparities between all three jumps aswell, sexes and the potential implications on performance. Previous studies displayed significant disparities between male and female participants. Therefore, the null hypothesis for this study is to display a non-significant difference across sexes aswell as between jumps. A limitation to this study is controlling the standardisation of variables such as squat depth during all tests.

Influence of the Menstrual Cycle and Training on the Performance of a Perturbed Single-Leg Squatting Task in Female Collegiate Athletes.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries often occur when an athlete experiences an unexpected disruption, or perturbation, during sports. ACL injury rates may also be influenced by the menstrual cycle. To determine whether training adaptations to knee control and muscle activity during a perturbed single-leg squatting (SLS) task depend on menstrual cycle phase in female athletes. Controlled laboratory study. A total of 21 healthy female collegiate athletes (current or former [<3 years]) who competed in 9 different sports performed an SLS task in which they attempted to match their knee position (user signal) to a target signal. The protocol consisted of a 9-condition pretest, 5 sets of 3 training trials, and a 9-condition posttest. One perturbation was delivered in each condition by altering the resistance of the device. Sagittal knee control (absolute error between the target signal and user signal) was assessed using a potentiometer. Muscle activity during perturbed squat cycles was normalized to maximal activation and to corresponding muscle activity during unperturbed squat cycles (%unperturbed) within the same test condition. Athletes performed the protocol during a distinct menstrual cycle phase (early follicular [EF], late follicular [LF], midluteal [ML]). Two-way mixed analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of the menstrual cycle and training on knee control and muscle activity during task performance. Venous blood was collected for hormonal analysis, and a series of health questionnaires and anthropometric measures were also assessed to determine differences among the menstrual cycle groups. After training, athletes demonstrated better knee control during the perturbed squat cycles (lower absolute error, P < .001) and greater soleus feedback responses to the perturbation (%unperturbed, P = .035). Better knee control was demonstrated in the ML phase versus the EF phase during unperturbed and perturbed squat cycles (P < .039 for both). Quadriceps activation was greater in the ML phase compared with the EF and LF phases, both immediately before and after the perturbation (P < .001 for all). Athletes learned to improve knee control during the perturbed performance regardless of menstrual cycle phase. The best knee control and greatest quadriceps activation during the perturbed squatting task was found in the ML phase. These findings may correspond to a lower incidence of ACL injury in the luteal phase and alterations in exercise performance across the menstrual cycle.

The toll of the scroll: A path toward burnout

Athletes report using social networking sites, including Instagram, to manage their self-presentations. While on Instagram, they may browse content and interact with others, enabling them to socially compare themselves to other athletes. Less favorable comparisons may contribute to higher burnout perceptions. The purpose of the current study was to (a) examine if the use of Instagram contributed to burnout perceptions and (b) if type of use and social comparison mediated these relationships. Male and female collegiate athletes (N = 162) completed measures of Instagram usage, social comparison, and burnout during their sport season. Latent path analysis using robust maximum likelihood estimation was used to examine the model. Daily time spent on Instagram was directly associated with exhaustion (β = −0.32) and reduced accomplishment (β = −0.21). Browsing was directly associated with exhaustion (β = 0.39), reduced accomplishment (β = 0.38), and sport devaluation (β = 0.27). Interacting was directly associated with devaluation (β = −0.23). Social comparison while using Instagram was directly associated with reduced accomplishment (β = −0.35) and devaluation (β = −0.34). Browsing mediated the relationship between time spent on Instagram and exhaustion (β = 0.13) and reduced accomplishment (β = 0.13). Social comparison was not a mediator. Results suggest that scrolling through posts on Instagram explains why time spent on the platform contributes to burnout perceptions. Comparing oneself favorably to others while using Instagram, independent of time spent on Instagram as well as type of use, may reduce burnout while comparing oneself unfavorably may enhance burnout perceptions.

Stiffer gymnastics floors result in more dorsiflexed ankles, potentially increasing the risk for Achilles tendon ruptures

One in five female collegiate gymnasts suffers an Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), primarily on floor exercise. Training floors are used daily, sometimes for over 10 years, while floors at competition sites are often new. Consequently, training floors feel “soft” and competition floors feel “stiff”. We hypothesized that the ankle joint angle is in a more dorsiflexed position on a “stiff” compared to a “soft” floor during impact, resulting in greater tension of the Achilles tendon and, consequently, a higher incidence of ATRs during competition. Female gymnasts from 78 US collegiate teams were invited to complete a survey, assessing whether ATR occurred at the training or competition sites, among other items. The ankle joint angles during landing from back-tumbling-take-offs on “soft” and “stiff” gymnastics floors were determined using video imaging. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson’s Chi Square test or t-tests, as appropriate. Twenty-one out of 103 gymnasts (20.4%, 95% CI: 13.6% to 29.4%) experienced an ATR. Relative to time, ATRs occurred only 0.08±0.01 (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.11) times per 1000 hours on training floors, but 1.85±0.11 (95% CI: 1.60 to 2.10) times per 1000 hours (p&lt;0.05) on competition floors. Ankle joint angles were in a more dorsiflexed position on the stiff (103.5±1.1 degree) than the soft floor (117.0±4.1 degree, p&lt;0.05), implying greater tension on the Achilles tendon. We conclude that stiff floors favor more dorsiflexed ankle joints, increasing the tension on the Achilles tendon, and potentially explaining the higher relative incidence of ATRs at competition compared to training sites. This research was supported by the Offce of Research and Sponsored Programs at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Subjective perceived risk factors of exertional heat exhaustion-related symptoms in female collegiate athletes in Japan.

Associations of exertional heat exhaustion (EHE)-related symptoms with lifestyle habits and health factors specific to female athletes, ranked by relative risks from high to low, remain elusive. Addressing this issue would benefit athletes and coaches, ensuring safer practices during summer sports activities. To address this issue, we distributed paper-based questionnaires to seven universities in Japan, and 983 respondents completed our survey. The questionnaires covered various personal characteristics, lifestyle habits, perceived health factors, perceived athletic activity, and EHE-related symptoms. In this retrospective case-control study, we analyzed the relationships of EHE-related symptoms (objective variables) with lifestyle habits, health factors, and athletic activity conditions (explanatory variables) using the partial proportional odds model. The questionnaire responses revealed that perceived dehydration, sickness, loss of appetite, perceived accumulated fatigue, perceived mental stress, lack of ambient wind, and insufficient rest breaks were positively associated with EHE-related symptoms, with relative risks ranging from high to low. Using an air conditioner during sleep and having a sleep duration of ≥ 6h were associated with a reduced risk of EHE-related symptoms. The study results suggest that female athletes should be allowed to postpone exercise or reduce its intensity and volume based on their perceptions of dehydration, sickness, loss of appetite, accumulated fatigue, and mental stress in summer to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Mechanical and Contractile Properties of Knee Joint Muscles after Sports-Related Concussions in Women Footballers.

The purpose of this study was to determine if women footballers have an increased lack of neuromuscular control of the knee joint after a concussion compared to a healthy cohort tested with tensiomyography (TMG). Forty-one female collegiate footballers were enrolled in this study from which there were 20 with a history of sports-related concussions (SRCs) and 21 control subjects. Results from the SRC group had significantly higher Tc (ms) (z = -5.478, p = 0.000) and significantly lower Dm (mm) (z = -3.835, p = 0.000) than the control group in the case of the rectus femoris muscle. The SRC group had significantly higher Tc (ms) (z = -2.348, p = 0.016) and significantly lower Dm (mm) (z = -4.776, p = 0.000) than the control group in the case of the vastus medialis muscle. The SRC group had significantly higher Tc (ms) (z = -5.400, p = 0.000) and significantly lower Dm (mm) (z = -4.971, p = 0.000) than the control group in the case of the vastus lateralis muscle. The SRC group had significantly higher Tc (ms) (z = -5.349, p = 0.000) than the control group in the case of the biceps femoris muscle response, whereas no significant difference was found in Dm (mm) (z = -0.198, p = 0.853) between the groups. The results of the current study may have implications for current practice standards regarding the evaluation and management of concussions and can add valuable information for knee prevention programs as well.

Nominal Differences in Acute Symptom Presentation and Recovery Duration of Sport-Related Concussion Between Male and Female Collegiate Athletes in the PAC-12

BackgroundSport-related concussion (SRC) is a heterogenous injury that often presents with varied symptoms and impairment. Recently, research has focused on identifying subtypes, or clinical profiles of concussion to be used in assessing and treating athletes with SRC. The purpose of this study was to investigate sex differences in clinical profiles, recovery duration, and initial symptom severity after SRC in a cohort of collegiate athletes in the Pacific-12 Conference (Pac-12).MethodsThis prospective cohort study examined post-SRC symptoms, recovery, and return-to-play times using data from the Pac-12 CARE Affiliated Program and Pac-12 Health Analytics Program. Clinical profiles reported by student-athletes were defined by the number (> 50%) of specific symptoms frequently reported for each profile. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine associations among sex, clinical profiles, time-to-recovery, and return-to-play times.Results479 concussion incidents met inclusion criteria. The probabilities of initial presentation of each clinical profile, initial injury severity scores, and recovery times within a profile did not differ between sexes (p = 0.33–0.98). However, both males and females had > 0.75 probabilities of exhibiting cognitive and ocular profiles. Initial injury severity score was a strong nonlinear predictor of initial number of clinical profiles (p < 0.0001), which did not differ between sexes. The number of clinical profiles was also a nonlinear predictor of time-to-recovery (p = 0.03) and return-to-play times (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsInitial symptom severity was strongly predictive of the number of acute clinical profiles experienced post-SRC. As the number of clinical profiles increased, time-to-recovery and time to return-to-play also increased. Factors other than sex may be better associated with acute symptom presentation post-concussion as no sex differences were found in reported clinical profiles or recovery. Understanding the number and type of clinical profiles experienced post-SRC may help inform concussion diagnostics and management.