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Background: The menstrual cycle and its impact on training and performance are of growing interest. However, evidence is lacking whether periodized exercise based on the menstrual cycle is beneficial. The primary purpose of this proposed randomized, controlled trial, the IMPACT study, is to evaluate the effect of exercise periodization during different phases of the menstrual cycle, i.e., comparing follicular phase-based and luteal phase-based training with regular training during the menstrual cycle on physical performance in well-trained women. Methods: Healthy, well-trained, eumenorrheic women between 18 and 35 years (n = 120) will be recruited and first assessed for physical performance during a run-in menstrual cycle at different cycle phases and then randomized to three different interventions: follicular phase-based training, luteal phase-based training, or regular training during three menstrual cycles. The training intervention will consist of high-intensity spinning classes followed by strength training. The menstrual cycle phases will be determined by serum hormone analysis throughout the intervention period. Assessment of aerobic performance (primary outcome) and muscle strength, body composition, and blood markers will be performed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Discussion: With a robust methodology, this study has the potential to provide evidence of the differential effects of exercise periodization during different phases of the menstrual cycle in female athletes. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05697263 . Registered on 25 January 2023, Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-04-02 (signyg);Funder: The Swedish Olympic Committee; Oura Health Oy; Folksam Research Foundation;Full text license: CC-BY

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fastpitch softball is one of the most popular sports among youth and high school female athletes. Despite some similarities to baseball, key differences between the two sports result in different injury patterns, and there is comparatively less literature describing injury epidemiology in fastpitch softball. The purpose of this review is to describe the epidemiology, biomechanics, and injury prevention efforts in regards to fastpitch softball injury with a particular focus on underhand pitching. RECENT FINDINGS: The injury rate in softball is relatively low and extended time loss injuries in particular are uncommon. Lower extremity injuries are more common overall in softball, but pitchers more often suffer upper extremity injury. Pitchers account for a relatively small proportion of all injuries recorded, but represent a similarly small subset of team rosters, with most teams carrying only a few pitchers in total. The underhand pitching motion exerts significant glenohumeral distractive forces and high stress across the biceps-labrum complex. Core and lower extremity strengthening play an important role in injury prevention for softball pitchers and position players. Fatigue and number of games pitched are tied to increased strength deficiencies and pain in fastpitch softball pitchers, yet pitch count limits are not employed in any major fastpitch softball leagues. While overall injury incidence is low in fastpitch softball players, the potential for overuse injury in pitchers in particular is noteworthy and not nearly as scrutinized as within the baseball community. Critical longitudinal tracking of softball injuries at varying levels of play would be helpful to better understand the sports injury risk. There are currently no formal pitch count limits enforced in a majority of fastpitch softball leagues. Core and lower extremity strengthening, pre-season conditioning, and monitoring of pitchers for signs of fatigue may be helpful in injury preve

Context: Despite the progress toward gender equality in events like the Olympic Games and other institutionalized competitions, and the rising number of women engaging in physical exercise programs, scientific studies focused on establishing specific nutritional recommendations for female athletes and other physically active women are scarce. Objective: This systematic review aimed to compile the scientific evidence available for addressing the question “What dietary strategies, including dietary and supplementation approaches, can improve sports performance, recovery, and health status in female athletes and other physically active women?” Data Sources: The Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched. Data Extraction: The review process involved a comprehensive search strategy using keywords connected by Boolean connectors. Data extracted from the selected studies included information on the number of participants and their characteristics related to sport practice, age, and menstrual function. Data Analysis: A total of 71 studies were included in this review: 17 focused on the analysis of dietary manipulation, and 54 focused on the effects of dietary supplementation. The total sample size was 1654 participants (32.5% categorized as competitive athletes, 30.7% as highly/moderately trained, and 37.2% as physically active/recreational athletes). The risk of bias was considered moderate, mainly for reasons such as a lack of access to the study protocol, insufficient description of how the hormonal phase during the menstrual cycle was controlled for, inadequate dietary control during the intervention, or a lack of blinding of the researchers. Conclusion: Diets with high carbohydrate (CHO) content enhance performance in activities that induce muscle glycogen depletion. In addition, pre-exercise meals with a high glycemic index or rich in CHOs increase CHO metabolism. Ingestion of 5–6 protein meals interspersed throughout the day, with each intake exceedin

Purpose: Short periods of reduced energy availability are commonly undertaken by athletes to decrease body mass, possibly improve the power-to-mass ratio, and enhance physical performance. Our primary aim was to investigate the impact of 10 d of low energy availability (LEA) followed by 2 d of optimal energy availability (OEA) on physical performance parameters in trained females. Second, physiological markers at the whole-body and molecular level related to performance were evaluated. Methods: Thirty young trained eumenorrheic females were matched in pairs based on training history and randomized to a 10-d intervention period of LEA (25 kcal.fat-free mass (FFM)(-1).d(-1)) or OEA (50 kcal.FFM-1.d(-1)) along with supervised exercise training. Before the intervention, participants underwent a 5-d run-in period with OEA + supervised exercise training. After the LEA intervention, 2 d of recovery with OEA was completed. Participants underwent muscle biopsies, blood sampling, physical performance tests, body composition measurements, and resting metabolic rate measurements. A linear mixed model was used with group and time as fixed effects and subject as random effects. Results: Compared with OEA, LEA resulted in reduced body mass, muscle glycogen content, repeated sprint ability, 4-min time-trial performance, and rate of force development of the knee extensors (absolute values; P < 0.05). Two days of recovery restored 4-min time-trial performance and partly restored repeated sprint ability, but performance remained inferior to the OEA group. When the performance data were expressed relative to body mass, LEA did not enhance performance. Conclusions: Ten days of LEA resulted in impaired performance (absolute values), with concomitant reductions in muscle glycogen. Two days of recovery with OEA partially restored these impairments, although physical performance (absolute values) was still inferior to being in OEA. Our findings do not support the thesis that LEA giving r

Lisa-Marie Huber, Masterarbeit Universität Innsbruck 2023

Movement patterns are altered after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and rehabilitation, which could increase the risk for a second rupture. Therefore, rehabilitation needs to be improved. The use of exergaming and virtual reality has shown promising results in the rehabilitation of chronic disease patients, but not yet with patients after musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the biomechanical movement quality and the potential risk of an anterior cruciate ligament (re-) rupture during a training with the ExerCube, an exergaming device. Biomechanical movement patterns of female healthy athletes (n = 7) of five different type of sports were investigated. Measured biomechanical risk factors during jumps, squats, left, and right lunges were knee flexion angle (fraction between 10° and 30°) and knee adduction angle, while the investigated biomechanical protective factor was the hip flexion angle. Additionally, knee extensor and flexor strength were measured with isokinetic dynamometry. Participants showed low knee extensor strength and normal knee flexor strength. Both risk factors were present in all four exercises, even though to a different extent, whereas the protective factor was found only during the squat and the jump or lunge of some participants. Strain on the anterior cruciate ligament during the squat and lunge is controllable, but during the jump explosive movements create a high amount of loading. It can therefore be concluded that the squat and lunge can be performed during later stages of rehabilitation, but it is not recommended to perform a jump in the ExerCube training environment.

Menstrual health represents a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to a woman's menstrual cycle. From a health literacy perspective, knowledge acquisition and expertise are dependent upon the degree to which an individual can find, access, understand, critically analyse, and apply health information. Therefore, menstrual health literacy can be used to describe the state of knowledge acquisition and application specific to menstrual health-related issues. Menstrual health literacy is low among female athletes, their coaches, and practitioners, and few evidence-informed education or implementation strategies exist to improve menstrual health literacy in sport. Moreover, athletes seldom discuss their menstrual cycles or hormonal contraceptive use with their coaches, despite experiencing menstrual symptoms and/or disturbances and perceiving their menstrual cycles/hormonal contraceptive use to affect performance. Barriers to communication about menstrual cycle- and hormonal contraceptive-related topics include a perceived lack of knowledge among athletes, coaches, and practitioners, concerns about how conversations on these issues will affect interpersonal relationships, and a lack of formal and informal discussion forums. Whilst evidence relating to the effects of the menstrual cycle phase and hormonal contraceptive use on training and performance is currently limited, with existing studies often lacking methodological rigour, impactful steps can still be made to support female athletes. This cornerstone review highlights the current state of menstrual health literacy among athletes, coaches, and practitioners, and provides recommendations for improving menstrual health literacy in sport.

Low energy availability (LEA) describes a state where the energy intake is insufficient to cover the energy costs of both exercise energy expenditure and basal physiological body functions. LEA has been associated with various physiological consequences, such as reproductive dysfunction. However, the effect of LEA on skeletal muscle protein synthesis in females performing exercise training is still poorly understood. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the impact of LEA on daily integrated myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic muscle protein synthesis in trained females. Thirty eumenorrheic females were matched based on training history and randomized to undergo 10 days of LEA (25 kcal.kg fat-free mass (FFM)(-1).day(-1)) or optimal energy availability (OEA, 50 kcal.kg FFM-1.day(-1)). Before the intervention, both groups underwent a 5-day 'run-in' period with OEA. All foods were provided throughout the experimental period with a protein content of 2.2 g kg leanmass(-1).day(-1). A standardized, supervised combined resistance and cardiovascular exercise training programme was performed over the experimental period. Daily integrated muscle protein synthesis was measured by deuterium oxide (D2O) consumption along with changes in body composition, resting metabolic rate, blood biomarkers and 24 h nitrogen balance. We found that LEA reduced daily integrated myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic muscle protein synthesis compared with OEA. Concomitant reductions were observed in lean mass, urinary nitrogen balance, free androgen index, thyroid hormone concentrations and resting metabolic rate following LEA. These results highlight that LEA may negatively affect skeletal muscle adaptations in females performing exercise training.

Editorial on the Research Topic Women in elite sports and performance enhancement: 2021

Purpose of reviewThe exponential growth of women participating in competitive sports throughout the years was made possible through several initiatives by the International Olympic Committee and the passage and implementation of Title IX as a federal law in the United States. However, this positive trend towards gender equity in sports has not transpired for women in medicine, especially in fields that care for elite athletes. This current review will discuss specific areas that can be tailored to help female athletes prevent injuries and optimize their athletic performance. We will also highlight how increased female team physician representation in sports may help optimize care for female athletes.Recent findingsFemale athletes are considered high risk for certain conditions such as ACL tears, patellofemoral pain syndrome, bone stress injuries, sport-related concussions, and sexual violence in sport. Addressing factors specific to female athletes has been found to be valuable in preventing injuries. Strength and conditioning can optimize athletic performance but remains underutilized among female athletes. Although diversity in healthcare workforce has been found to be beneficial for multiple reasons, women remain underrepresented in sports medicine. Increasing female team physician representation may positively impact care for female athletes. Team physicians must understand the physiologic, biomechanical, and anatomic factors that are unique to female athletes in order to tailor injury prevention programs and optimize their athletic performance. Advocating for gender equity in sports medicine to advance representation of women in the field will increase workforce diversity and promote excellence in sports medicine care.

Bakgrund: Relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S) är ett syndrom som förekommer inom många idrotter och olika idrottsliga nivåer. Konsekvenserna av detta syndrom är mångfacetterad, det kan påverka prestationen långsiktigt och kan orsaka skador och avslut på idrottskarriären. I forskningen är idrotter såsom löpning, estetiska idrotter och friidrottare de som är överrepresenterade i förhållande till RED-S. Kvinnor är generellt en underrepresenterad grupp inom idrottsmedicinsk forskning och detta motiverar till att studera just denna grupp. Syfte: Syftet med denna undersökning var att undersöka i vilken utsträckning respondenterna hört talats om RED-S, samt att identifiera riskgrupper utifrån träningsmängd och idrottsutförande hos idrottande kvinnor inom fotboll, innebandy, friidrott och ridning, oavsett idrottslig nivå. Metod: Data insamlades med hjälp av en digitalbaserad enkät som besvarades av 44 deltagare. Enkäten bestod av 35 frågor och distribuerades i en sluten grupp som bestod av 16 000 + medlemmar samt en öppen grupp med 3 000 medlemmar och även via egna sociala medier. Resultat: Av totalt 44 deltagare fick 24 deltagare en poäng ≥8 utifrån frågeformuläret Low Energy availability in females questionnaire (LEAF-Q), enligt enkätens poängssystem indikerar detta en förhöjd risk att utveckla RED-S. Den överrepresenterade idrotten var ridsporten med 22 deltagare. Den ojämna fördelningen gjorde det svårt att generalisera några resultat för träningsmängd och idrottskategori. Av totalt 44 deltagare var det endast sex deltagare som tidigare hade hört talats om RED-S i utbildningssyfte. Diskussion: Mer än 50% av deltagarna hade en LEAF-Q poäng högre ≥8 och majoriteten var användare av någon form av preventivmedel vilket påverkade det slutgiltiga resultatet. Konklusion: Av cirka 19 000 potentiella deltagare var det 44 svaranden, bortfallet var högt vilket innebär att resultatet blev missvisande. Det tenderar att finnas ett kunskapsglapp bland kvinnliga idrottare v, Background: Relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S) is a syndrome that occurs in many sports and different sports levels. The consequences of this syndrome are multifaceted, it can affect performance in the long term and can cause injuries and the end of the sports career. In the research, sports such as running, aesthetic sports and track and field athletes are those that are overrepresented in relation to RED-S. Women are generally an underrepresented group in sports medicine research and this motivates to study this particular group. Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to investigate the extent to which the respondents had heard about RED-S, and to identify risk groups based on the amount of training and sports performance of female athletes in football, floorball, athletics and horse riding, regardless of the level of sport. Method: Data were collected using a digital-based questionnaire that was answered by 44 participants. The survey consisted of 35 questions and was distributed in a closed group consisting of 16,000+ members as well as an open group with 3,000 members and via own social media. Results: Out of a total of 44 participants, 24 participants received a score ≥8 based on the Low Energy availability in females questionnaire (LEAF-Q), according to the questionnaire's scoring system, this indicates an increased risk of developing RED-S. The over-represented sport was equestrian with 22 participants. The uneven distribution made it difficult to generalize any results for training amount and sport category. Out of a total of 44 participants, only six participants had previously heard of RED-S for educational purposes. Discussion: More than 50% of the participants had a LEAF-Q score higher than ≥8 and the majority were users of some form of contraception, which affected the result. Conclusion: Out of approximately 19,000 potential participants, there were 44 respondents, the dropout rate was high, which means that the results were misleading. The

Futsal is classified as a high-intensity intermittent sport or repeated-sprint sport. Explosive and very fast movements are performed with short reaction time, interspersed with playing time of 3 to 6 min during the 40 min match, at intensities of 85–90% of maximum HR. Performance factors such as agility, sprint repetition capacity, aerobic endurance capacity, lower body power, and speed are associated with the game actions. These performance factors can be affected by the athlete’s body composition. The aim is to determine the relationship between the different physical and physiological performance parameters and body composition in top-level women’s futsal players. The subjects of the study were 12 elite female futsal players (25.17 ± 4.75 years old) competing in the First Division Spanish League. An anthropometric assessment was conducted by an ISAK level III anthropometrist for three days during the competitive period. The sum of 4, 6 and 8 skinfolds and body composition were calculated with anthropometric data. Performance tests were conducted to evaluate agility, ability to repeat sprints, velocity and the explosive power of lower extremities in the playing court with specific warm up and previous explication during 2 days in the same week as the anthropometric tests. The tests used for that purpose were: t-test, Yo-Yo test, repeat-sprint ability (RSA), speed test, and jump test (JS, CMJ and ABK). Pearson correlations were used to establish the different associations with a p-value < 0.05. The results showed a negative correlation between agility and the fat component, and a positive correlation between the muscle component and aerobic capacity, agility, speed, and ABK jump. Body composition plays a fundamental role in the development of performance-related skills in women’s futsal.

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries during sidestepping occur when the imposed knee joint loading exceeds the load tolerance of the tissues. The load tolerance thresholds can be modified with appropriate training (e.g., resistance training and plyometrics) and thus increase injury resilience. However, despite such insights, the incidence of ACL injury has not decreased in recent years. Injury is of particular concern for female athletes who present with significantly higher rates than male athletes. Understanding how different constraints shape an athlete’s movement strategy and affect the resultant joint loading when designing training interventions can help to mitigate injury risk. Motor capacities, such as muscular strength and power, act as boundaries on the safe execution of motor skills and shape the acquisition of movement strategies. Therefore, increasing single- and multi-joint strength enables a broader solution space for movement strategies and mitigates joint loading impact. Exposing athletes simultaneously to the motor skills intended to be improved is critical to effectively transfer new levels of motor capacities into the movement competency. Manipulating task constraints during sidestepping can be used in the training process to expose athletes to high joint loading and prepare them for “worst-case” scenarios. Such “worst-case” scenarios are characterised by certain segment alignments and joint positions previously determined as ACL risk factors in sidestepping movements (e.g., lateral foot placement, lateral trunk flexion or knee flexion at initial contact). Therefore, the purpose of this thesis was to increase the understanding of how to prepare athletes for “worst-case” sidestepping scenarios. Chapter 2 established a theoretical framework for how different constraints can be utilised to a) manipulate the joint loading profile, such as the magnitude and distribution of joint loading, when sidestepping, thus specifically overloadin

Middle-distance running is an interesting domain in which to study sex differences in athletic performance because of the varied metabolic, mechanical and tactical demands. The Anaerobic Speed Reserve (ASR) represents the difference between an athlete’s maximal sprint speed (MSS) and maximal aerobic speed (MAS). The ASR and MSS are key determinants of elite male 800m performance (Sandford et al., 2018); however, the role of the ASR in female middle-distance running is unclear, considering sex differences in physiology, mechanics and competition factors. We found that sub-groups of female middle-distance runners could be distinguished using the ASR and speed reserve ratio (SRR = MSS/MAS), illustrating diversity in metabolic and mechanical profiles. The ASR and MSS had no significant relationship with 800m time; instead, measures of aerobic power appear to underpin 800m performance in this sub-elite female cohort. This information may assist coaches and practitioners to individualize training protocols for female middle-distance runners.

The incentive to practice sports activities since childhood and adolescence has been increasing. The chance to be part of a national level selection and to represent your country in world championships and Olympics increases the level of competitiveness and encouragement for young people who dream of living out of the sport. In volleyball, like other sports, repetitive impacts result in various types of injuries. Ankle, knee, shoulder, and hand are the structures with the highest level of injury prevalence in athletes. The general objective of this research was to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in volleyball athletes at the University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR). The methodology followed the following sequence: a questionnaire was implemented, as a measuring instrument, from June 2020 to September 2020. The study population consisted of 16 athletes from the UNIFOR women's team aged between 18 and 25 years with a history of injury within the sport in question (volleyball). The main outcomes found were a high number of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes, mainly during training. The participants had a high rate of musculoskeletal injuries in athletes, where 92.3% occurred during training. At the end of this investigation, it can be concluded that within the group selected for the study, the highest incidence of these injuries occurs during training, with a percentage of 92.3% of injuries in training and only 7.7% during games / championships., O incentivo à prática de atividades esportivas desde a infância e na adolescência tem sido cada vez maior. A chance de fazer parte de uma seleção de nível nacional e de representar seu país em campeonatos mundiais e olimpíadas aumentam o nível de competitividade e estímulo para o jovem que sonha em viver do esporte. No voleibol, como outros esportes, os impactos repetitivos resultam em vários tipos de lesões. Tornozelo, joelho, ombro e mão são as estruturas com maior nível de prevalência de lesão nos atletas. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi avaliar a prevalência de lesões musculoesqueléticas em atletas de voleibol da Universidade de Fortaleza (UNIFOR). A metodologia obedeceu a seguinte sequência: foi realizada a implementação de um questionário, como instrumento de medida, no período de junho de 2020 a setembro de 2020. A população do estudo foi composta por 16 atletas do time feminino da UNIFOR com idades entre 18 e 25 anos com histórico de lesão dentro da prática esportiva em questão (voleibol). Os desfechos principais encontrados foram um alto número de lesões musculoesqueléticas nas atletas principalmente durante os treinos. As participantes apresentaram um alto índice de lesões musculoesqueléticas nas atletas onde 92,3% ocorreram durante os treinos. Ao final desta investigação pode-se concluir que, dentro do grupo selecionado para o estudo, a maior incidência dessas lesões ocorre durante os treinamentos, tendo esse um percentual de 92,3% de lesões em treinos e de apenas 7,7% durante jogos/campeonatos., El incentivo para la práctica de actividades deportivas desde la infancia y la adolescencia ha ido en aumento. La posibilidad de ser parte de una selección a nivel nacional y representar a su país en campeonatos mundiales y Juegos Olímpicos aumenta el nivel de competitividad y aliento de los jóvenes que sueñan con vivir del deporte. En el voleibol, como en otros deportes, los impactos repetitivos provocan varios tipos de lesiones. El tobillo, la rodilla, el hombro y la mano son las estructuras con mayor prevalencia de lesiones en los deportistas. El objetivo general de esta investigación fue evaluar la prevalencia de lesiones musculoesqueléticas en atletas de voleibol de la Universidad de Fortaleza (UNIFOR). La metodología siguió la siguiente secuencia: se implementó un cuestionario, como instrumento de medición, de junio de 2020 a septiembre de 2020. La población de estudio estuvo conformada por 16 atletas del equipo femenino de UNIFOR con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 18 años. 25 años con historial de lesiones dentro del deporte en cuestión (voleibol). Los principales resultados encontrados fueron un elevado número de lesiones musculoesqueléticas en deportistas, principalmente durante el entrenamiento. Los participantes tenían una alta tasa de lesiones musculoesqueléticas en los deportistas, donde el 92,3% ocurrieron durante el entrenamiento. Al final de esta investigación se puede concluir que, dentro del grupo seleccionado para el estudio, la mayor incidencia de estas lesiones se da durante el entrenamiento, con un porcentaje del 92,3% de lesiones en el entrenamiento y solo el 7,7% durante los partidos. / campeonatos.

Purpose: To investigate changes in self-reported physical fitness, performance, and side effects across the menstrual cycle (MC) phases among competitive endurance athletes and to describe their knowledge and communication with coaches about the MC. Methods: The responses of 140 participants (older than 18 y) competing in biathlon or cross-country skiing at the (inter)national level were analyzed. Data were collected via an online questionnaire addressing participants' competitive level, training volume, MC history, physical fitness, and performance during the MC, MC-related side effects, and knowledge and communication with coaches about the MC and its effects on training and performance. Results: About 50% and 71% of participants reported improved and reduced fitness, respectively, during specific MC phases, while 42% and 49% reported improved and reduced performance, respectively. Most athletes reported their worst fitness (47%) and performance (30%) and the highest number of side effects during bleeding (P <.01; compared with all other phases). The phase following bleeding was considered the best phase for perceived fitness (24%, P <.01) and performance (18%, P <.01). Only 8% of participants reported having sufficient knowledge about the MC in relation to training, and 27% of participants communicated about it with their coach. Conclusions: A high proportion of athletes perceived distinct changes in fitness, performance, and side effects across the MC phases, with their worst perceived fitness and performance during the bleeding phase. Because most athletes indicate a lack of knowledge about the MC's effect on training and performance and few communicate with coaches on the topic, the authors recommend that more time be devoted to educating athletes and coaches.

Background: Strenous exercise stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) axis in order to ensure homeostasis and promote anabolism. Furthermore, exercise stimulates a transient increase in the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) suggested to mediate the anxiolytic effects of exercise. Athletes with secondary functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) have been reported to have lower BDNF, and a blunted HP axis response to exercise as athletes with overtraining syndrome. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the hormonal and BDNF responses to a two-bout maximal exercise protocol with four hours of recovery in between in FHA and eumenorrheic (EUM) athletes. Methods: Eumenorrheic (n = 16) and FHA (n = 14) endurance athletes were recruited from national teams and competitive clubs. Protocols included gynecological examination; body composition (DXA); 7-day assessment of energy availability; blood sampling pre and post the two exercises tests. Results: There were no differences between groups in hormonal responses to the first exercise bout. After the second exercise bout IGFBP-3 increased more in FHA compared with EUM athletes (2.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.6 mu g/L, p = 0.048). There were non-significant trends toward higher increase in IGF-1 (39.3 +/- 4.3 vs. 28.0 +/- 4.6 mu g/L, p = 0.074), BDNF (96.5 +/- 22.9 vs. 34.4 +/- 23.5 mu g/L, p = 0.058), GH to cortisol ratio (0.329 +/- 0.010 vs. 0.058 +/- 0.010, p = 0.082), and decrease in IGF-1 to IGFBP-3 ratio (-2.04 +/- 1.2 vs. 0.92 +/- 1.22, p = 0.081) in athletes with FHA compared with EUM athletes. Furthermore, there was a non-significant trend toward a higher increase in prolactin to cortisol ratio in EUM athletes compared with athletes with FHA (0.60 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.23 +/- 0.15, p = 0.071). No differences in the hormonal or BDNF responses between the two exercise bouts as a result of menstrual function were found. Conclusion: No major differences in the hormonal or BDNF responses between the two ex

Purpose: Hip and groin injuries in football are problematic due to their high incidence and risk of chronicity and recurrence. The use of only time-loss injury definitions may underestimate the burden of hip and groin injuries. Little is known about hip and groin injury epidemiology in female football. The first aim of this study was to examine the within-season (2014–2015) prevalence of total injury with and without time-loss in female amateur football players. The second aim was to study the within-season and preseason (2015–2016) prevalence of hip/groin injuries with and without time-loss. The third aim was to study the association between the duration of hip and groin injury in the 2014–2015 season and the severity of hip/groin problems during the 2015–2016 preseason. Methods: During the preseason, 434 Dutch female amateur football players completed an online questionnaire based on the previous season and current preseason. The hip and groin outcome score (HAGOS) was used to assess the severity of hip and groin injuries. Results: The hip/groin (17%), knee (14%), and ankle (12%) were the most frequent non-time-loss injury locations. The ankle (22%), knee (18%), hamstring (11%), thigh (10%), and hip/groin (9%) were the most common time-loss injury locations. The previous season prevalence of total injury was 93%, of which non-time-loss injury was 63% and time-loss injury was 37%. The prevalence of hip/groin injury was 40%, non-time-loss hip/groin injury was 36% and time-loss hip/groin injury was 11%. The preseason prevalence of hip/groin injury was 27%, non-time-loss hip/groin injury was 25%, and time-loss hip/groin injury was 4%. Players with longstanding hip/groin injury (> 28 days) in the previous season had lower HAGOS scores at the next preseason than players with short-term (1–7 days) or no hip/groin injury (p < 0.001). From all players with hip/groin injury from the previous season, 52% also sustained hip/groin injury in the following preseason, of which 73

This study utilizes a content analysis of Sports Illustrated covers from 1954-2016 to evaluate the amount and type of coverage permitted to female athletes through this source of print media. The covers were critiqued for both quantity and quality as it relates to the coverage afforded to female athletes and how it differs from the coverage of male athletes. The results from this study provide a foundation for those who wish to further explore and raise awareness on the issue of underrepresentation and misrepresentation of female athletes in sports media.

В диссертации анализируется специфика восприятия женской телесности и конструирования представлений об идеальном женском спортивном теле в современной российской культуре. Предложена авторская модель телесности, включающая эстетический, функциональный и социальный аспекты. Определены особенности восприятия разных типов женской спортивной телесности молодыми российскими мужчинами., The dissertation explores the patterns guiding the perception of female embodiment and the construction of idealized female athletic body images in contemporary Russian culture. The author proposes an original model of embodiment combining aesthetic, functional and social aspects. The text identifies patterns governing young Russian males’ perceptions of differing types of female athletic embodiment.

Effects of Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptives on Sport Performance During the menstrual cycle, there is a variation of the female steriod hormones estrogen and progestogen. These hormones has mainly reproduktive functions, but do also affect other physiological systems, which may have an influence on athletic performance. The use of oral contraceptives among female athletes matches the use among the general population. There is a concern among female athletes and there coaches weather oral contraceptives can affect the performance. The purpose of this litterature review is to determine the effect of the menstrual cycle and the use of oral contraceptives on athletic performance. Most studies indicates that neither the aerobic performance or VO₂max changes during the mestrual cycle, but an increase in ventilation during the lutheal phase has been observed. In the lutheal phase, the body temperature is elevated, which can affect the performance negatively during physical activity in hot and humid conditions. Studies evaluating the anaerobic performance shows varied results, which can be explained by few study participants, different study designs and varying definitions of menstrual cycle phase. Some studies that have examined the strength variation have not seen any difference, and others have seen an advantage during the follicular phase, when it also seems to be beneficial to train more strength training to optimize training adaptation. The use of oral contraceptives can affect the body composition of female athletes. Fat mass and BMD can increase, and is seen mainly in athleteswith mestrual dysfunctions. This can be benificial for their health and decrease the risk of injury, but may decrease performace level. The effect of oral contraceptive administration on aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity and strength are unclear and the research has come up with varying results. Future studies should investigate oneoral contraceptive pill formulation at a time, andals

Women’s handball is a sport, which has seen an accelerated development over the last decade. Data on movement patterns in combination with physiological demands are nearly nonexistent in the literature. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to analyze the horizontal movement pattern, including the sprint acceleration profiles, of individual female elite handball players and the corresponding heart rates (HRs) during a match and secondly to determine underlying correlations with individual aerobic performance. Players from one German First League team (n = 11) and the Norwegian National Team (n = 14) were studied during one match using the Sagit system for movement analysis and Polar HR monitoring for analysis of physiological demands. Mean HR during the match was 86 % of maximum HR (HRmax). With the exception of the goalkeepers (GKs, 78 % of HRmax), no position-specific differences could be detected. Total distance covered during the match was 4614 m (2066 m in GKs and 5251 m in field players (FPs)). Total distance consisted of 9.2 % sprinting, 26.7 % fast running, 28.8 % slow running, and 35.5 % walking. Mean velocity varied between 1.9 km/h (0.52 m/s) (GKs) and 4.2 km/h (1.17 m/s) (FPs, no position effect). Field players with a higher level of maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) executed run activities with a higher velocity but comparable percentage of HRmax as compared to players with lower aerobic performance, independent of FP position. Acceleration profile depended on aerobic performance and the field player’s position. In conclusion, a high V̇O2max appears to be important in top-level international women’s handball. Sprint and endurance training should be conducted according to the specific demands of the player’s position.

The 90th Minute is a documentary film that sheds light on problems that female athletes face in professional sports.The half-hour film reflects on why professional women’s soccer struggles for survival while it is also one of the most popular sports among girls in the United States. The story is told through the lives of three athletes who are in the Women’s Professional Soccer League that started in 2009. They play for the top club team in the world called FC Gold Pride, with Olympic gold medalists, former World Cup competitors and Marta Vieira Da Silva - the best female soccer player in the world.The main characters are Kim Yokers, a former University of California, Berkeley soccer star whose initial dream to play professionally was shattered when the first women’s professional league folded in 2003; Rosie Tantillo, a University of Southern California graduate and PAC-10 award winner who is a developmental player in the new league; and Ali Riley – a young and talented rookie who has a bright career in front of her. Despite their success, the three athletes face major obstacles in their careers that force them to think critically about how much they are willing to give up to play professional soccer.The film looks back at the 1999 Women’s World Cup - when Mia Hamm empowered thousands of young girls to play soccer, Brandi Chastain fell to her knees in her sports bra after kicking the final game’s winning goal, and the U.S. National Team surprised the country with their athleticism, charisma and ability to win. The tournament was an iconic example of how far women had come in sports.The 90th Minute gives a voice to female athletes who have yet to reach their potential because of continuing gender inequities in sports.

Perera, N. K. P., Kemp, J. L., Joseph, C., & Finch, C. F. (2019). Epidemiology of hospital-treated cricket injuries sustained by women from 2002–2003 to 2013–2014 in Victoria, Australia. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 22, 1213-1218. Available here