Marion Regional Healthcare System

Health Shorts

Athletes

Are You at Risk of Female Athlete Triad?  

Many young women who appear to be fit and healthy are at risk of developing "female athlete triad"-which includes eating disorders, menstrual irregularities and low bone mineral density. A high school survey of nearly 100 female cross country runners and ballet dancers found that 27 percent had been told they could improve performance by losing weight, and 41 percent thought it was healthy and "okay" to occasionally miss a period. About 14 percent admitted to abnormal eating patterns.  [SOURCE: "Athletes at Risk," The Back Letter, August, 2001]

Does Intensive Training Stunt Growth?  

Female athletes such as gymnasts, figure skaters and ballet dancers who start intensive training at an early age tend to be shorter and lighter, at least during early adolescence, than girls participating in sports such as basketball, volleyball, tennis and swimming. Regardless of the sport, a young female athlete in intensive training may also have delayed onset of puberty. A recent review of research concluded that intensive training does not appear to retard young females' growth or delay their onset of puberty. It's more likely, the authors concluded, that girls with smaller frames select themselves or are selected by coaches at least in part because of their body type. Young male gymnasts also tend to have short stature and late sexual maturation.  [SOURCE: A.D.G. Baxter-Jones and N. Maffulli, "Intensive Training in Elite Young Female Athletes: Effects of Intensive Training on Growth and Maturation Are Not Established," British Journal of Sports Medicine, February, 2002]

Helmets for Skiing, Snowboarding?  

When a skier or snowboarder collides with a tree or other object, a serious, even fatal, head injury can occur. That's why some doctors are recommending helmets for these sports, particularly for children and beginners. Helmets on the market today offer significant protection without being too cumbersome.  [SOURCE: "Winter Exercise: Cold-Weather Fitness," Adapted from Mayo Clinic Health Letter, MayoClinic.com, October 16, 2002]

Overtraining: Road to a Stress Fracture  

A stress fracture is an overuse injury that occurs because of repetitive impact over a certain bone or a rapid increase in the level of training. When muscles in the area become fatigued, additional stress is placed on the bone, eventually leading to fracture. A stress fracture can usually be detected by a focal point of tenderness over the bone, with or without swelling. Common sites are the metatarsal bones of the feet and the tibial shaft in the shin area. Stress fractures typically require about six weeks to heal completely. Cross training in activities such as rowing, swimming, cross country skiing and biking can help prevent the repetitive impact that leads to stress fractures and can be used to help the athlete stay in shape during recovery.  [SOURCE: Heidi Splete, "Walking Boots Can Get Athletes Back in the Game," Pediatric News, May, 2003]

Polluted Air Puts Athletes at Risk  

Good old fresh air is not always as clean and pure as it should be. One study from the University of Southern California [The Lancet, February 2, 2002] found that in heavily polluted areas young people who participated in three or more team sports had three to four times higher risk of developing asthma than other youth. While doctors have always known that polluted air can bring on attacks in asthma patients, this study suggests that it may also be a cause of a first attack. Young athletes from communities with a low level of pollution had no increased risk of developing asthma, regardless of how many sports they participated in. The authors recommended that on days when the ozone layers are high, children should try to limit outdoor activities requiring prolonged deep breathing. The ultimate solution, of course, must come from community-wide efforts to reduce air pollution.  [SOURCE: "Air Pollution May Trigger Episodes in Young Athletes," Immunotherapy Weekly, February 20, 2002]

Turn Your Head and Cough  

For most competitive sports, a genital examination is a basic component of the pre-participation physical. Yet a survey of 755 male athletes, ages 12 to 25, revealed that only 38 percent knew that their age group has an increased risk of testicular cancer, and most did not perform regular testicular self-examination. Fewer than half reported wearing protective cups during competition.  [SOURCE: Bruce Jancin, "Young Male Athletes Not Wearing Cups," Family Practice News, June 1, 2001]

When Your Body Tells You To Stop  

When you exercise yourself into an injury, your body gives you warning signs that should not be ignored:

· Pain is the surest sign of trouble. A little soreness at the beginning of a workout may simply be a carry-over from a hard workout the day before, but any pain that continues after the first five minutes or so or that shows up after the workout or the next morning is a sure sign of an injury.

· Swelling is another sign that you should rest and treat the injured area until the swelling subsides.

· If a muscle or tendon doesn't seem to work as it should, you may be able to perform your regular workout, but you shouldn't. Once you start favoring the injured area and changing your stride or technique, you're asking for more trouble down the road. Treatment for most minor injuries is RICE, an acronym for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Avoid stretching the injured area in case there are tissue tears that could be made worse. If an injury persists, a doctor may prescribe doses of antiinflammatory medication high enough to reduce the inflammation.

[SOURCE: Jeff Galloway, "Injury Rehab," Runner's World, June, 1997]

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