Female Athlete Triad (Triad) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) are two similar syndromes underpinned by low energy availability (LEA) that can have negative health consequences in athletes ( De Souza et al., 2014 ; Mountjoy et al., 2014 ). Triad was originally described in 1993
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Characterization of Risk Quantification Differences Using Female Athlete Triad Cumulative Risk Assessment and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport Clinical Assessment Tool
Bryan Holtzman, Adam S. Tenforde, Allyson L. Parziale, and Kathryn E. Ackerman
Female Athletes With Varying Levels of Vertical Stiffness Display Kinematic and Kinetic Differences During Single-Leg Hopping
Justin P. Waxman, Kevin R. Ford, Anh-Dung Nguyen, and Jeffrey B. Taylor
kinetic characteristics between adolescent female athletes with varying levels of vertical stiffness, as evaluated via a stationary single-leg hopping task. We hypothesized that athletes with lower stiffness would display lesser peak vertical ground reaction forces, greater peak joint angles and joint
Critical Issues Involving Male Consultants and Female Athletes
Keith Henschen
This article presents and examines a number of critical issues facing male psychology consultants when working with female athletes. It focuses on potential problems associated with cross-sex consulting in sport psychology, including such topics as developing and maintaining a professional relationship, ethics, range of services provided, and delivery of services. Ethical issues of cross-sex consulting are discussed and include sexual relationships, dependency, bonding, and the father figure syndrome. A brief section of this article provides insights on how to be effective in cross-sex consulting. Finally, a number of practical guidelines are provided on how males can become effective sport psychology consultants to female athletes.
Nutritional Concerns of Female Athletes: A Case Study
Nancy Clark
Some of the nutritional concerns of female athletes are highlighted in this case study of a 20-year-old woman who wants to lose 16% of her body weight to qualify for the position of coxswain on a national crew team. These concerns include adequacy of vitamin, mineral, protein, and carbohydrate intake as well as amenorrhea and pathogenic eating behaviors.
Psychosocial Risk Factors of Bulimic Symptomatology Among Female Athletes
Christy Greenleaf, Trent Petrie, Justine Reel, and Jennifer Carter
Petrie and Greenleaf (2007) presented a psychosocial model of disordered eating for female athletes. Based upon the 2007 model, the present study examined four key psychosocial variables: internalization, body dissatisfaction, restrained eating, and negative affect, as predictors of bulimic symptoms among NCAA Division I female athletes. Two hundred four women (N = 204) participated and were drawn from three different universities and competed in 17 different varsity sports. After controlling for the effects of body mass and social desirability, hierarchical regression analysis showed that the psychosocial variables explained 42% of the variance in bulimic symptoms. In the full model, higher levels of body dissatisfaction, more dietary restraint, and stronger feelings of guilt were associated with bulimic symptomatology. Internalization of the sociocultural ideal as well as feelings of fear, hostility, or sadness were unrelated.
Eating and Weight Disorders in the Female Athlete
Jack H. Wilmore
This paper presents an overview of eating disorders, including definitions, clinical criteria for appropriate diagnosis, and a discussion of the potential for increased risk for eating disorders in special populations of female athletes. This is followed by a discussion of the prevalence of eating disorders in normal and athletic populations. From this discussion, it seems clear that female athletes in endurance or appearance sports are at an increased risk for disordered eating. Finally, the paper focuses on related disorders—a triad associating eating disorders, menstrual dysfunction, and bone mineral disorders. It is clear that secondary amenorrhea is associated with malnutrition and disordered eating. Further, bone mineral disorders are related to menstrual dysfunction. Disordered eating may represent the initiating factor of this triad.
The Effectiveness of Progressive Muscle-Relaxation Techniques in Improving Affective Well-Being Among Female Athletes During Menstruation: A Randomized Controlled Study
Ichrak Abdelkefi and Sana Jarraya
Sporting activities for women can be affected by several factors, including biological influences. One such factor is the menstrual cycle (MC), which can significantly impact the performance and emotional well-being of female athletes ( Anderson & Babcock, 2008 ). The MC typically begins with
Causal Attribution Theory and the Female Athlete: What Conclusions Can We Draw?
Judy A. Blucker and Eve Hershberger
Causal attribution theory research has recently been applied to the female athlete. Early causal attribution research was influenced by Horner's (1968) original hypothesis about a fear of success personality trait that women generally possess. The purpose of this paper is to critique such research noting variables and issues which may have an impact on research and its interpretation when applied to the female athlete.
The Relationship Between Isometric Hip Strength and Incidence of Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Athletes: A Critically Appraised Topic
Cayla A. Lee, Jessica L. Jacobs, and Jennifer L. Volberding
Clinical Scenario There is a high prevalence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries that occur among athletes participating in multiplanar and cutting sports. 1 – 3 In addition, there is an increased prevalence of ACL injuries among adolescent female athletes. 1 – 4 The most
Serum Ferritin and Anemia in Trained Female Athletes
Michael J. Ashenden, David T. Martin, Geoffrey P. Dobson, Colin Mackintosh, and Allan G. Hahn
The aim of this study was to establish whether extremely low serum ferritin values in female athletes were associated with indications of iron deficiency anemia and whether serum ferritin values were influenced by the type of training or participants' body size. Hematological data collected during 6 years at the Australian Institute of Sport were reviewed to quantify changes in serum ferritin concentration associated with training and to establish whether decrements in serum ferritin were associated with any change in hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, or mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Mean serum ferritin concentrations of 7.5 μg ⋅ L−1 were not associated with any indication of iron-deficiency anemia. Serum ferritin declined by approximately 25% with the onset of rigorous daily training (p <.01) whether training was predominantly weight-bearing or non-weight-bearing. Rowers had significantly higher ferritin concentrations than basketball players of similar stature (p = .02). We conclude that considerable background information such as the stage of training, specific sport, and previous blood results should be sought when interpreting serum ferritin concentrations in female athletes.
