FEMALE ATHLETIC TRIAD
It is widely recognized that regular physical activity has a positive impact on health. Physically active individuals have a decreased incidence of heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity, and many other health problems. With increased funding and availability for sport in recent years, more and more girls and women are regularly taking part in physical activity and sports. While the benefits are many, adolescent females and young adult women who participate regularly in sports are at risk of being effected by the female athletic triad.
The first component of the female athletic triad is menstrual irregularity. While menstrual cycles can vary from person to person, the average woman has a menstrual period every 28 days. In young women who exercise vigorously and don’t have adequate caloric activity this frequency may decrease. Less than 9 menstrual cycles per year is associated with decreased hormonal levels in females. This increases a woman’s risk for injury.
The second component of the female athletic triad is decreased bone mineral density. If the young athlete has a decreased level of the hormone estrogen, her bones may lose calcium and become weaker. This decreased strength in her bones may make the female athlete more susceptible to injury and fracture.
The third component of the triad is disordered eating. In our culture where physical appearance and thinness are stressed, it is easy for athletes to feel pressured to lose weight. An unhealthy diet leads to many medical complications including fluid imbalance, infertility, osteoporosis, altered thermal regulation, and even death.
While women and girls should be encouraged to be physically active in all phases of their lives, we should also be aware of warning signs for the female athletic triad. Weight loss, decreased food intake, or a disruption in regular menstrual cycles should prompt further evaluation by a health care professional.
If you have any additional questions with regards to the female athlete, please feel free to call a physical therapist at East Suburban Sports Medicine Center.
Erin B. Williams, PT