Young Female Athletes Research Articles

“So Tight in the Thighs, So Loose in the Waist”

While a wide range of research documents how media continue to devalue female athletes, negatively affecting female body image and perceptions of female athletic ability, new media technologies are allowing athletes to potentially challenge these representations. This essay focuses on @SoccerGrlProbs, the Twitter handle of an anonymous group of soccer players, and their interaction with over 180,000 followers. Examining how @SoccerGrlProbs constructs female athletic identity, it considers how this identity is taken up by girls and young women in their own self-constructions as athletes. It argues that @SoccerGrlProbs enables young female athletes to negotiate the conflicting demands of emphasized femininity and athleticism by inspiring self-constructions that allow them to claim athletic “somebodiness” while simultaneously subverting sports discourses emphasizing self-mastery and female athletes' (hetero)sexual attractiveness.

Physical and physiological profile of young female taekwondo athletes during simulated combat

Aim and Method. The purpose of this study was to describe the physical performance (acceleration, number of impacts, distance and maximum speed) and physiological response (heart rate and blood lactate) of young female taekwondo athletes during combat simulations. Material. The sample consisted of seven girls (13.1 ± 1.1 years), who participated in a simulated taekwondo competition. Results. The main results observed were: post match blood lactate = 4.19 ± 2.03 mmol. L-1; peak heart rate = 201 ± 7 bpm; maximum acceleration = 9.68 ± 0.52 G; number of impacts = 148 ± 42; total distance = 203 ± 69 m; and maximum speed = 7.07 [6.7, 8.2] km/h. A lower mean heart rate (P < 0.05; F = 8.333) was found in the first round (163 ± 14 bpm) compared with the second (182 ± 9 bpm) and third rounds (185 ± 10 bpm). Conclusions. The main findings of the present study are that young female taekwondo athletes presented with low blood lactate after the match, performed around 150 impacts during the match, which occurred each 1.37 m - given that the total displacement is around 200 m - with high acceleration, and the displacements were performed at moderate speeds. In addition the heart rate was lower in the first round compared to the other two rounds. © Idokan Poland Association.

The ACTN3 Gene is a Potential Biomarker for the Risk of Non-Contact Sports Injury in Female Athletes

Sports injuries can become serious impairments for all athletes. Most notably, female athletes are at higher risk than men for sports injury, for example, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) disorder. However, there is currently no genetic marker to determine if a female athlete harbors a predisposition for muscle trauma. Hence, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping of the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and uncoupling proteins (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in 99 young female athletes who had been injured during a sports activity, and we compared the occurrence of muscle traumas with the genotypes using the chi-square test. For the ACTN3 577R allele, the subjects who had non-contact muscle injury had a marked increase in frequency (p-value=0.0015; odds ratio=2.52). The significant increase in non-contact muscle injury related to ACTN3 577R alleles suggests that ACTN3 is likely to be involved in muscle strain and that non-contact muscle injury might occur due to the presence of this allele. It is crucially important for young female athletes to understand their risk for injury, as they might be able to modify their training program to avoid injury, depending on their specific genetic markers.

Evaluation of knee joint proprioception and balance of young female volleyball players: a pilot study.

[Purpose] The main purpose of our study was the evaluation of the effects of long-term volleyball practice on knee joint proprioception and balance of young female athletes. [Subjects and Methods] An observational case-control study was performed. The study enrolled 19 female volleyball players in the experimental group and 19 sedentary counterparts as controls. A Biodex balance system and dynamometer were used for the evaluations. The paired t-test was used to determine the significance of differences between the performance of athletes and controls. [Results] The knee proprioception analysis showed a significant difference at 60° joint position in active and passive tests. A similar trend, but without significance, was found for the 20° joint position. In the postural stability tests both groups showed similar results with no significant differences between them. [Conclusion] In conclusion, the results indicate a significant influence on joint proprioception is elicited by long-term exposure to a team sport like volleyball. However, the postural stability indexes showed similar trends in both groups, highlighting the analogous ontogenesis of the subjects investigated and the low influence of volleyball practice on postural stability.

Adipocytokine and ghrelin responses to acute exercise and sport training in children during growth and maturation.

Physical exercise is known to regulate energy balance. Important to this regulatory system is the existence of several peptides that communicate the status of body energy stores to the brain and are related to the body fatness including leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin. These hormones assist in regulating energy balance as well as somatic and pubertal growth in children. It appears that rather few studies have investigated the responses of leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin to acute exercise and these studies have demonstrated no changes in these peptides as a result of exercise. Leptin levels are decreased and may remain unchanged advancing from prepuberty to pubertal maturation in young male and female athletes. A limited number of studies indicate that adiponectin levels are not different between prepubertal and pubertal athletes and untrained controls. However, in certain circumstances circulating adiponectin could be increased in young athletes after onset of puberty as a result of heavily increased energy expenditure. Ghrelin levels are elevated in young sportsmen. However, pubertal onset decreases ghrelin levels in boys and girls even in the presence of chronically elevated energy expenditure as seen in young athletes. Ghrelin may also be used as an indicator of energy imbalance across the menstrual cycle in adolescent athletes. There are no studies with high-molecular-weight adiponectin and only very few studies with acylated ghrelin responses to acute exercise and chronic training have been performed in young athletes. Since these forms of adiponectin and ghrelin have been thought to be bioactive forms, further studies with these specific forms of adiponectin and ghrelin are needed. In conclusion, further studies should be conducted to investigate the response of these hormones to acute and chronic negative energy balance to better understand their role in regulating energy balance during growth and maturation in young athletes.

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries in pediatric athletes presenting to sports medicine clinic: a comparison of males and females through growth and development.

Background:Limited data exist regarding the effect of the growth process on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk in male versus female children.Hypothesis:The proportion of ACL injuries/sports injuries presenting to clinic will vary by age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).Study Design:Cross-sectional epidemiologic study.Level of Evidence:Level 3.Methods:The study group consisted of a randomly selected 5% probability sample of all children 5 to 17 years of age presenting to a sports medicine clinic from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2009; 2133 charts were reviewed. Data collected included demographics, height and weight, injury mechanism, diagnosis, treatment, previous injury, and organized sports.Results:A total of 206 ACL tears were analyzed (104 girls, 102 boys). Girls were slightly older than boys (15.1 ± 1.7 vs 14.3 ± 2.1 years; P < 0.01). Male-female comparison of ACL injury/total injury by age revealed that girls had a steeper increase by age than boys. Among 5- to 12-year-olds, boys had a higher ACL injury/total injury ratio than girls (all P < 0.01). Children 13 to 17 years of age showed no significant difference for sex in ACL injury/total injury ratio. As age advanced, the proportion of ACL injuries/total injuries increased for both girls (P < 0.01) and boys (P = 0.04). BMI was independently associated with an ACL injury (P < 0.01).Conclusion:The proportion of ACL injuries/total injuries was similar for boys and girls aged 13 to 17 years. Girls showed a significantly steeper increase in ACL injury proportion versus boys through puberty.Clinical Relevance:This study will increase clinician awareness of ACL injury occurrence in young male and female athletes 5 to 12 years of age. Injury prevention efforts should target young girls before the onset of puberty and before injury occurs.

Decreased basic metabolic rate may reflect pituitary secretion disturbance in elite female athlete

To evaluate the relationship between basal metabolic rate, energy balance and hormones level in young female athletes with menstrual disorders. Thirty-three well-trained young female athletes, aged 18.4 ± 2.9 years, with menstrual disorders due to hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, participated in the study. Evaluation of nutritional status was based on analyses of body composition using the BIA method (fat mass [FM], fat-free mass [FFM]). Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was assessed with a portable indirect calorimeter. Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), folliculate-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), TSH, testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL) and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and leptin levels were measured. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was evaluated using the HR-Flex method. Dietary records for 7 consecutive days were used to evaluate the athletes’ energy and nutrient intakes. Depending on the measured BMR value and comparing with the Harris-Benedict equation, female athletes were assigned to one of the two groups: LBMR group with low BMRs and HBMR group with high BMRs. Serum leptin (P < 0.016) and LH levels (P < 0.003) were significantly lower in the LBMR group. In the LBMR athletes, a tendency towards negative energy balance was observed (P < 0.032). Significant correlations were found between BMR and LH level (P < 0.021) and between LH and leptin levels (P < 0.001) in the entire sample. Decreased BMR may reflect pituitary secretion disturbance in elite female athlete. Évaluer un lien entre le taux métabolique de base, l’équilibre énergétique et taux d’hormones chez les jeunes athlètes féminines présentant des troubles menstruels. Trente-trois jeunes athlètes féminines bien entraînées avec troubles menstruels à cause d’un dysfonctionnement hypothalamo-hypophysaire, âgées de 18,4 ± 2,9 ans, ont participé à l’étude. L’évaluation nutritionnelle était fondée sur des analyses de la composition corporelle mesurée à l’aide de méthode BIA (masse grasse [FM], masse maigre [FFM]). Le taux métabolique de base (TMB) a été mesuré à l’aide d’un calorimètre indirect portable. Les taux sériques de : hormone lutéinisante (LH), hormone folliculostimulante (FSH), oestradiol (E2), TSH, testostérone (T), prolactine (PRL) et globuline se liant aux hormones sexuelles (SHBG), ainsi que leptine ont été mesurés. La dépense énergétique totale (DET) a été mesurée à l’aide de méthode HR-Flex. Afin d’évaluer les apports énergétiques et nutritionnels des athlètes, nous avons utilisé des dossiers diététiques pendant 7 jours consécutifs. Selon les TMB mesurés et après avoir comparé des valeurs à l’aide d’une équation Harris-Benedict, des athlètes féminines ont été assignées à l’un des deux groupes : groupe LBMR avec un TMB bas et groupe HBMR avec un TMB haut. Le taux sérique de leptine (p < 0,016) et les taux de LH (p < 0,003) étaient sensiblement inférieurs dans le groupe LBMR. La tendance vers l’équilibre énergétique négatif a été observée dans le groupe LBMR (p < 0,032). Rapporté à l’ensemble de l’échantillon, des corrélations significatives entre le TMB et le taux de LH (p < 0,021) et entre les taux de LH et leptine (p < 0,001) ont été trouvées. Le TMB réduit chez les athlètes féminines d’élite peut indiquer un problème de la sécrétion hypophysaire.

Effects of dietary intervention in young female athletes with menstrual disorders.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three months of dietary intervention on menstrual cycle in young female athletes with amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea.MethodsFrom forty-five female professional athletes with menstrual irregularity that were recruited thirty-one, aged 18.1 ± 2.6 years, completed the study and were analyzed. Hyperprolactinemia, thyroid dysfunction, primary ovarian failure and hyperandrogenism were excluded in the study participants. The subjects started intense training at the age of 11.2 ± 3.5 years and continued during next 6.8 ± 3.3 years. Energy and nutrients intake, total energy expenditure, energy availability and body composition as well as serum concentrations of LH, FSH, 17 – beta estradiol and progesterone were measured at the beginning of the study and after three months of individualized dietary intervention.ResultsFollowing three months of dietary intervention significant increase in energy intake (2354 ± 539 vs. 258 8 ± 557 kcal, P = 0.004) and energy availability (28.3 ± 9.2 vs. 35.8 ± 12.3 kcal/kg FFM/d, P = 0.011) was observed as well as improved energy balance (−288 ± 477 vs. -51 ± 224 kcal/d, P = 0.002). Though no changes in BMI and body composition were noted but significant rise in LH concentrations (3.04 ± 1.63 vs. 4.59 ± 2.53 mIU/ml, P = 0.009) and LH to FSH ratio (0.84 ± 0.56 vs. 0.96 ± 0.52, P = 0.001) was achieved, but no restoration of menstrual cyclicity.ConclusionsThis report provides further support for the role of energy deficiency in menstrual disorders among young female athletes and the benefits of an adequate energy intake and energy availability on hormones concentration. Continuation controlled dietary intervention is needed to assess the extent to which long-term improvement in the nutritional status results in improvements in the hormonal status of female athletes, to an extent that would allow the regulation of the menstrual cyclity.

Nine-month nutritional intervention improves restoration of menses in young female athletes and ballet dancers.

BackgroundWe hypothesized that an intervention designed to increase the energy and nutrient intake could serve as an efficacious method to restore normal menstrual functions in athletes and ballet dancers.MethodsIn this study, a 9-month nutritional intervention (NI) was conducted in 21 dancers and 31 athletes with menstrual disorders. Analyses of the body composition were performed, and the levels of LH, FSH, P, E2, TSH, T, PRL, SHBG, leptin, resting metabolic rate (RMR), energy and nutrient intake, total energy expenditure were estimated. The NI was based on an individual diet. The effects of the NI were controlled after 3, 6 and 9 months of use.ResultsThe NI resulted in a significant change of the energy and nutrient intake. After 9 months, a significant increase in the LH level among dancers was observed, while in female athletes this effect was seen after 3 months of the NI use. The 9-month NI resulted in the restoration of regular menses in 3 dancers and 7 athletes, respectively. Women with regular cycles had a higher percentage of the fat mass (FM).ConclusionsA non-pharmacological intervention in female athletes and ballet dancers with menstrual disorders can restore regular menstrual cycles, although restoration of menses may take more than 1 year. An increase in the body fat mass may be one of the most important predictors of restoration of menses.

Endostatin and physical exercise in young female and male athletes and controls.

It was suggested that endostatin, an angiogenic mediator, is influenced by physical exercise. We performed bicycle stress testing in 88 healthy non-smoking female and male individuals, divided into athlete and non-athlete groups. Serum endostatin and norepinephrine were measured at rest, after reaching maximum workload and after 20 min of recovery. At baseline, both female and male controls showed significant lower levels compared to female and male athletes (89.39±15.32 resp. 93.39±15.00 ng/ml; p<0.001 vs. 128.81±20.84 resp. 147.52±27.72; p<0.001). An increase in endostatin levels in both groups and sexes was associated with bicycle stress testing (p for all groups<0.001). The extent of endostatin increase was comparable in both groups and sexes and varied between 23-27%. Significance was obscured when the performance was entered as covariate. Acutely induced physical strain leads to an increase in endostatin levels in athletes and controls of both sexes, the extent of increase depending on the extent of workload. An athletic lifestyle with >3 h of endurance training/week seems to lead to higher long-term endostatin levels which might play a role in the connection between sports and cardiovascular prevention.

The Effect of a Coordination Training Program on the Performance of Basic Handball Skills among Young Female Athletes

Handball is a sport which demands a high level of coordination. The term “coordination” has been defined as the ability to perform complex motor exercises. The 5 basic coordination abilities are: reaction, rhythm, balance, kinesthetic differentiation and space - time orientation. It has been suggested that “additional technique training” should be practiced during childhood and adolescence in order enhance coordination abilities. The aim of this study was to define which elements of coordination are the most important in handball and to identify whether a coordination training program will improve the performance of basic handball skills among children. Ten expert coaches in handball completed a questionnaire relating to the five elements of coordination and gave their opinion regarding the most important elements of coordination for handball players. Based on the results from the questionnaires, a program was designed to provide practice in the most important elements of coordination for handball. The study participants were 20 female youth handball players (age 11 ± 2 years). The experimental group (EG, n=20) performed a specific coordination program 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Measurements of handball performance were taken prior to beginning the program and again after 12 weeks of training. The results revealed that there was a significant difference in performance before and after the training program. In conclusion, performance of basic handball skills (passing, shooting, dribbling and defensive movements) improved after participating in the training program for 12 weeks.

The influence of sex hormones on anterior cruciate ligament rupture: female study.

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in the concentrations of testosterone, 17-β estradiol and progesterone between female patients with and without ACL rupture and the possible effect of these hormones on generalised joint laxity. Female subjects with non-contact knee joint injury were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: the examined group, consisting of female subjects with ACL rupture, and the control group, consisting of female patients without ACL rupture. In the next step, the patients from these two groups were paired off on the basis of three factors: the level of professional sports involvement (including the type of sports activity), the side of the body where the injury had occurred (left or right) and the age of the subjects. In the end, there were 12 pairs (24 subjects). The concentrations of sex hormones were established from saliva specimens with the aid of the Salimetrics enzyme immunoassay. Generalised joint laxity was tested with the aid of the "laxity score" according to Beighton, Solomon and Soskolne. Female subjects with ACL rupture had significantly lower concentrations of testosterone (p < 0.01), significantly lower concentrations of 17-β estradiol (p < 0.05) and significantly lower concentrations of progesterone (p < 0.01) than female subjects with intact ACL. Decreased concentrations of testosterone, 17-β estradiol or progesterone may be a risk factor leading to ACL rupture. The concentrations of these hormones do not affect generalised joint laxity. Additional research on a larger group of patients is necessary to further determine the effects of these hormones on generalised joint laxity and ACL ruptures. Young female athletes with lower concentrations of sex hormones are more prone to anterior cruciate ligament rupture which is why they need to reduce their sports activities during the pre-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, when these concentrations are additionally reduced.

Comparison of Hip and Knee Neuromuscular Power Between Young Female and Male Athletes

Comparison of Hip and Knee Neuromuscular Power Between Young Female and Male Athletes

Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life and Knee Function After Knee Injury in Young Female Athletes.

Background:Recent literature has called for greater attention to evidence-based practice in sports medicine with the documentation of overall status and impairments following injury. The prospective documentation of impairments associated with knee injuries in female athletes regarding their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and knee function (KF) of high school and collegiate athletes is limited. Assessing the effect knee injuries have on young female athletes may allow clinicians to better understand the perspectives of the athletes who sustain these injuries.Purpose:To document the changes over 12 months in self-reported HRQoL and KF in young females who have sustained a knee injury.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:A convenience sample of 242 females (mean age, 17.4 ± 2.4 years) who injured their knee participating in sport or recreational activities was utilized. Injuries were categorized as anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL), anterior knee pain (AKP), patellar instability (PAT), meniscus tear (MNT), iliotibial band syndrome (ITB), collateral ligament sprain (COL), and other (OTH). HRQoL was assessed with the Short Form–12 v 2.0 survey (SF-12) physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS). KF was assessed with the 2000 International Knee Documentation Committee survey (IKDC). Dependent variables included the paired differences in the 2000 IKDC as well as SF-12 composite scores from preinjury through 12 months postdiagnosis. Paired differences were assessed with repeated-measures analyses of variance (P ≤ .05).Results:IKDC scores were lower through 12 months for ACL, AKP, and PAT; through 6 months for MNT; and through 3 months for COL and OTH. HRQoL PCS and MCS scores were lower through 3 to 12 months depending on the type of injury classification.Conclusion:Knee injuries can negatively affect KF and HRQoL for up to 12 months in young females. Sports medicine providers need to be aware of these impacts as they work to effectively treat individuals with these injuries.

Endocrine Disorders in Adolescent and Young Female Athletes: Impact on Growth, Menstrual Cycles, and Bone Mass Acquisition

Puberty is a crucial period of dramatic hormonal changes, accelerated growth, attainment of reproductive capacity, and acquisition of peak bone mass. Participation in recreational physical activity is widely acknowledged to provide significant health benefits in this period. Conversely, intense training imposes several constraints, such as training stress and maintenance of very low body fat to maximize performance. Adolescent female athletes are therefore at risk of overtraining and/or poor dietary intake, which may have several consequences for endocrine function. The "adaptive" changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal, -adrenal, and somatotropic axes and the secretory role of the adipose tissue are reviewed, as are their effects on growth, menstrual cycles, and bone mass acquisition. A systematic search on Medline between 1990 and 2013 was conducted using the following terms: "intense training," "physical activity," or "exercise" combined with "hormone," "endocrine," and "girls," "women," or "elite female athletes." All articles reporting on the endocrine changes related to intense training and their potential implications for growth, menstrual cycles, and bone mass acquisition were considered. Young female athletes present a high prevalence of menstrual disorders, including delayed menarche, oligomenorrhea, and amenorrhea, characterized by a high degree of variability according to the type of sport. Exercise-related reproductive dysfunction may have consequences for growth velocity and peak bone mass acquisition. Recent findings highlight the endocrine role of adipose tissue and energy balance in the regulation of homeostasis and reproductive function. A better understanding of the mechanisms whereby intense training affects the endocrine system may orient research to develop innovative strategies (ie, based on nutritional or pharmacological approaches and individualized modalities of training and competition) to improve the medical care of these adolescents and protect their reproductive function.

Oxytocin Secretion Is Related to Measures of Energy Homeostasis in Young Amenorrheic Athletes

Oxytocin has been implicated in the modulation of energy metabolism in animals. Oxytocin knockout mice develop obesity without a change in food intake, suggesting that a lack of oxytocin may reduce metabolic rate. Furthermore, administration of oxytocin centrally reduces food intake in rats, an effect reversed by an oxytocin antagonist, implying that oxytocin may regulate appetite and energy intake. We have previously demonstrated that young female athletes (in a higher energy expenditure state than nonathletes) have low nocturnal oxytocin compared with nonathletes. Whether oxytocin is associated with measures of energy homeostasis in athletes is unknown. We hypothesized that oxytocin, a signal for energy availability, would be associated with other measures of energy homeostasis in young female athletes. We performed a cross-sectional study of 45 females, aged 14-21 years [15 amenorrheic athletes (AA), 15 eumenorrheic athletes, and 15 nonathletes] of comparable body mass index. Dual x-ray absorptiometry was performed to assess body composition. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure resting energy expenditure (REE). Fasting levels of oxytocin, energy homeostasis hormones irisin and fibroblast growth factor-21, and appetite-regulating hormone peptide YY were obtained. In AA, oxytocin secretion was positively correlated with surrogate measures of energy availability, including weight (r = 0.65, P = .009) and body mass index (r = 0.61, P = .016). Furthermore, oxytocin was associated with REE (r = 0.80, P = .0003), independent of lean mass, and with irisin (r = 0.74, P = .002) and fibroblast growth factor-21 (r = 0.58, P = .024). In eumenorrheic athletes, oxytocin was associated with REE (r = 0.59, P = .021), independent of lean mass. In nonathletes, oxytocin secretion was not significantly associated with measures of energy homeostasis. In AA, oxytocin secretion is associated with measures of energy availability and expenditure, suggesting that oxytocin may be involved in regulation of energy balance in energy deficient states. Further studies determining the role of oxytocin in appetite and energy homeostasis in athletes are warranted.

Pediatric Sports Injuries

Background: There is still much that we do not know about differences in sports injuries between young male and female athletes and the factors that may increase the risk for injuries in this regard. Purpose: To describe and compare differences between males and females in pediatric sports-related injuries. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed using a 5% random sampling (N = 2133) of medical records of children aged 5 to 17 years seen over 10 years in a sports medicine clinic at a large academic pediatric hospital. Information was collected and analyzed on age, sex, height, weight, injury type (overuse vs acute/traumatic), location of injury, and sports involvement. Results: Overall, female athletes had a higher percentage of overuse injuries (62.5%) compared with traumatic injuries (37.5%); the opposite was seen in male athletes (41.9% vs 58.2%, respectively; P < .001). Looking at specific areas of injury, female athletes sustained more injuries to the lower extremity (65.8%) and spine (11.3%) as compared with male athletes (53.7% and 8.2%, respectively). Male patients had a greater percentage of injuries to the upper extremity (29.8%) as compared with female patients (15.1%). The type of hip/pelvis injuries differed greatly by sex, with females sustaining more overuse (90.9%) and soft tissue injuries (75.3%) versus males, who suffered injuries that tended to be traumatic (58.3%) and bony (55.6%) in nature. Males were more likely than females to participate in team and contact/collision sports. The percentage of females with patellofemoral knee pain was approximately 3 times greater than that of males (14.3% vs 4.0%, respectively; P < .001). Males were twice as likely as females to be diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (8.6% vs 4.3%, respectively; P < .001) and fractures (19.5% vs 8.2%, respectively; P < .001). The percentage of males and females who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury was almost equal (10.0% and 8.9%, respectively; P = .369). Conclusion: Sports injuries in young males and females differed by injury type, diagnosis, and body area. These results may be related to the referral patterns unique to the division of the hospital, including a high number of female dancers. Further investigation is required to better understand the injury risk in pediatric male and female athletes.

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby: Gendered Innovations in Orthopaedic Science

Let's Talk About Sex, Baby: Gendered Innovations in Orthopaedic Science

Sport specificity background affects the principal component structure of vertical squat jump performance of young adult female athletes

PurposeLong-term training specificity is thought to alter performance in tests evaluating strength and power production capability. The aim of the present study was to provide additional information to the limited existing knowledge concerning the possible differences of the force/time profile of squat jumping among different groups of young female athletes. MethodsOne hundred and seventy-three adult women (20.1 ± 2.8 years, 1.71 ± 0.09 m, 65.6 ± 10.3 kg, mean ± SD for age, height, and mass, respectively) engaged in track and field (TF), volleyball (VO), handball (HA), basketball (BA), and physical education students (PE) executed maximal squat jumps (SQJ) on a force plate. Pearson's correlation was used to identify the relationship between SQJ performance, the anthropometric characteristics and the biomechanical parameters. Differences concerning the biomechanical parameters among groups were investigated with analysis of variance, while the force- (FPD) or time- (TPD) dependency of SQJ execution was examined using principal components analysis (PCA). ResultsSQJ was unrelated to body height but significantly correlated with body mass (r = −0.26, p = 0.001). TF jumped higher and produced larger peak body power output compared to all the other groups (p < 0.05). All athletes were superior to PE since they performed the SQJ with a longer (p < 0.05) vertical body center of mass trajectory during the propulsion phase. PCA results revealed that TF significantly differentiated than the other groups by relying on FPD. ConclusionVarious different profiles of FPD and TPD were detected due to different sporting background in young female athletes. Since TF superiority in SQJ was relied on the larger power production and a greater FPD, female indoor team sport athletes are suggested to execute jumping exercises adopting the jumping strategies utilized by TF.

Effect of Chiropractic Manipulation on Vertical Jump Height in Young Female Athletes with Talocrural Joint Dysfunction: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Pilot Trial

ObjectiveThe main objective of this pilot study was to explore the effect of chiropractic high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) manipulation on vertical jump height in young female athletes with talocrural joint dysfunction. MethodsThis was a randomized assessor-blind clinical pilot trial. Twenty-two female handball players with talocrural joint dysfunction were randomized to receive either HVLA manipulation (n = 11) or sham treatment (n = 11) once a week during a 3-week period. The main outcome was change in vertical jump height from baseline to follow-up within and between groups after 3 weeks. ResultsNineteen athletes completed the study. After 3 weeks, the group receiving HVLA manipulation (n = 11) had a statistically significant mean (SD) improvement in vertical jump height of 1.07 (1.23) cm (P = .017). The sham treatment group (n = 8) improved their vertical jump height by 0.59 (2.03) cm (P = .436). The between groups' change was 0.47 cm (95% confidence interval, −1.31 to 2.26; P = .571) in favor of the group receiving HVLA manipulation. Blinding and sham procedures were feasible, and there were no reported adverse events. ConclusionThe results of this pilot study show that a larger-scale study is feasible. Preliminary results suggest that chiropractic HVLA manipulation may increase vertical jump height in young female athletes with talocrural joint dysfunction. However, the clinical result in favor of HVLA manipulation compared with sham treatment needs statistical confirmation in a larger randomized clinical trial.