Women have become dedicated runners. The numbers are increasing. According to the National Runner Survey women constitute 54% of the runners. The problem is women have a higher amount of stress fracture. Thomas Jefferson University produced a study explaining why women have higher rates of stress fractures. There is a lack of knowledge about women’s bodies and athletic performance. The information must catch up to the growing number of female athletes and recreational fitness enthusiasts. Physiological differences contribute to the higher rate of stress fractures. Sports Health and Physical Therapy in Sport produced data delineating risk factors. More research will be required to develop effective prevention and training programs.
The subjects of the study were average women runners. Professional athletes were not included. A total of 40 women between the ages of 18 to 65 participated. There were 20 women with a history of stress factures. The other 20 women did not have a history of stress fractures. Women were matched according to age and ability. The reason professional athletes were not used because their bodies are used to extreme physical demands. Their bodies may not be as susceptible to certain injuries due to specialized training. However, female athletes do have a higher injury rate. The stress fracture risk is related to physiological attributes related to bone structure, density, sex hormones, and muscle mass. There are also other factors that include ignoring pain, training, nutrition, and intensity. Not enough strengthening of certain muscle groups also increase risk to injury.
Women’s anatomy and physiology means that a different approach should be taken in regards to exercise physiology. Personal medical and health condition can also play a role. Certain individuals may be at risk for higher injury rates due to a genetic predisposition. This is why a mixed method technique of analysis was used according to Jeremy Close MD.
The study focused on using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Comprehensive blood panel examined testosterone, estradiol, vitamins, and minerals. Vitamin D and calcium are critical for bone health. There was no hormone difference between the two groups. The women with a history of stress fractures did report mensural changes and irregularities in their periods. That came during training session and peak training time. The DXA testing demonstrated that women prone to stress fracture had lower bone density in the hip . That would mean bone strength has decreased. The link between the menstrual cycle and bone strength is unclear. Studies that focus on bone mineral density tend to focus on post-menopausal women. What can be concluded is that women need to build enough bone mass to protect against stress fracture.
Women were interviewed about their perception of risk. The women who were at risk reported increasing training load quickly. That may not be the best for injury prevention. The body has to acclimate its self to a new training regimen. Increase in training load should be gradual. Other times women had difficulty figuring out what pain was normal. When doing repetitive motion or exercise aches can occur. This may not be an indication of anything serious. The more intense the pain becomes, then it is an indication of injury. Accumulations overtime can be harmful.
Women with high stress fracture also reported that they did not make time for a balanced diet and proper strength training. Exercise regimens will not be as effective, unless nutrition compliments it. If the musculoskeletal system is not strengthened, injury risk will only increase. The women with no history of stress fractures most likely were doing the correct nutritional and exercise guidelines.
What can be concluded from the study is that women require nutritional and strength training needs. Vitamin D and calcium are required to maintain healthy bone structure. Weight training or strengthening exercises for the legs not only improve performance, but aid in prevention of injury. Women can return to running after stress fracture, however a new approach may be needed for rehabilitation. The difficult task is helping women distinguish between normal aches and severe pain. The new information will be useful to healthcare providers and medical professionals advising women on how to run safely. Further study will also contribute to elite female runners who want to avoid possible career ending injuries.
Causes of Higher Stress Fractures in Female Runners published first on https://bellyshackllcweb.tumblr.com/
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