Gymnastics Athletic Injuries

explanatory Essay

1070 words

The sheer energy of a gymnast alone can be felt by audiences of all ages, but what the spectators lack the ability to feel is the pounding of the bodies that bear the impact of the athletes in action. Gymnastics consists of a mixture of acrobatic performances of four different events for females, and six different events for males (Gianoulis 1). Gymnastics is demanding in a multitude of ways, including: physically, emotionally and mentally. It requires countless hours of dedication. The concerns of most gymnasts are moving up to the next level, or getting a more advanced skill, while the concerns of the doctors, coaches, and parents revolve mostly around the athlete’s health, which is put at stake for the adored yet dangerous sport. Injuries are common among both male and female gymnast alike, but due to the fact a female gymnast’s career peaks at the same time of major growth and development, a female gymnast’s body as a whole is more likely to undergo lifelong changes or affects (Gianoulis 2). Among the injuries of the mind blowing athletes, the most common ones affect the ankles, feet, lower back, wrist, and hands of individuals (Prevention and Treatment 1). From sprains, to the breaks, the intriguing sport of gymnastics is physically demanding on a gymnast’s body. Apart from injuries to bones, ligaments, muscles, and joints, other effects, both good and bad, result from participation gymnastics. Early Osteoporosis, delayed menstruation, and eating disorders are some effects consistently found in female gymnast (Gianoulis 2). Aside from internal effects, over eighty-six thousand injuries are medically treated each year (Prevention and Treatment 1). These injuries often result from constant use, resulting in overstress... ... middle of paper ... ... Medicine. 3rd ed. Vol.3. Detroit: Gale, 2006.2139-2141. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Apr. 2014. Gianoulis, Tina. "Foodies." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Ed. Thomas Riggs. 2nded. Vol. 2. Detroit: St. James Press, 2013. 351-352. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web.22 Apr. 2014. Gymnastics, Rehabilitation .” Body in Balance Physical Therapy. 12 March 2014.http://bodyinbalancephysicaltherapy.com/wellness-servies/return-to-sports-program/gymnastics/ “Prevention and Treatment of Gymnastics Injuries.” AOSSM Sports Tips. 2008.www.sportsmed.org.https://www.sportsmed.org/uploadedFiles/Content/Patient/Sports_Tips/ST%20Gymnastics%2008.pdf. 7 April 2014 “What are the Health Benefits of Gymnastics?” Livestrong.com. December 18,2013. Livestrong Foudation. 12 March 2014. http://www.livestrong.com/article/414383-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-gymnastics/

In this essay, the author

Explains that gymnastics is physically demanding on a gymnast's body, and that it requires countless hours of dedication and dedication.
Explains that gymnastics causes a multitude of injuries, but it also affects the athletes in positive ways.
Explains that injuries to the knee and ankles are the most common lower body injuries in gymnasts.
Explains that gymnastics can be prevented by warming up aerobically and an-aerobically, which can eliminate some of the eighty-six thousand injuries treated medically per year.
Opines that what are the health benefits of gymnastics? livestrong foudation.
Explains that gymnasts' upper body is a weight bearing joint. wrist, shoulder, and elbow injuries are common in gymnastics.
Explains dupler, douglas, and gianoulis, tina. "knee injuries." the gale encyclopedia of medicine. 3rd ed.

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Physical Therapy For Sports Injuries
explanatory essay
"Sports Injuries Rehabilitation - Cedars-Sinai." Sports Injuries Rehabilitation - Cedars-Sinai. Cedars-sinai.edu, 2014. Web. 08 May 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that athletes are unaware of injuries due to the fact of not being able to recognize when they may have an injury.
- Explains that athletes aren't sure of how to prevent an injury while being active in a sport. a proper warm-up or stretch could prevent the injury from getting worse.
- Describes the physical rehab & sports injury center in joliet, illinois.
- Explains sports injuries rehabilitation - cedars-sinai.
- Explains how injuries can be caused by not exercising properly, not doing proper stretches, and not keeping enough fluids in the body. poor training methods, inadequate warm-up and lack of conditioning are some of the causes of sports injuries.
- States britt, darice, "physical therapy crucial to sports injury recovery." source.southuniversity.edu.
- Explains mesnick, neal, "what do you need to do for sports injury rehabilitation?" articlesbase.com, 2005.
781 words
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Competitive Gymnastics Research Paper
explanatory essay
Competitive sports have been around for as long as history, and most people have participated in one at some point in their lives. Competitive sports are not for all people, however, because not everyone feels the pros outweigh the cons. One popular sport is competitive gymnastics, which has always had controversy as to whether it is more beneficial or harmful. While gymnastics is a potentially dangerous sport, if taught or performed improperly, its benefits, both physical and psychological, are far greater than the potential risks.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the physical and psychological benefits and risks of competitive gymnastics, which has always had controversy as to whether it is more beneficial or harmful.
- Describes the physical effects of competitive sports, including the potential death of an athlete if they are unable to perform skills properly, or saving their lives by giving them strength to dissuade the force of and impact, keeping vital organs from being hurt.
- Explains that flexibility reduces the risk of hyper-extension of joints and ligaments, regulates blood flow, and stimulates muscle growth and development.
- Explains that body-awareness and control are gained through hours of practice on the different apparatuses.
- Explains that gymnasts demonstrate their strength by being able to move their bodies through a myriad of positions. strength training in any sport always comes with risks and gymnastics is no different.
- Explains that athletes in competitive gymnastics do not need to have a specific body type to be proficient.
- Opines that performance enhancing drugs have little appeal for a competitive gymnast. competitive gymnastics is anaerobic, meaning high physical endurance is not needed reducing the desire to improve it through drugs.
- Explains that gymnastics is a reasonably safe sport. in 1997 only 33,378 gymnasts required an emergency room visit, whereas baseball had 326,569.
- Opines that the psychological effects of a sport are more complex than the physical effects. competitive gymnastics has focus, perseverance, discipline, patience, determination, and negative psychological traits.
- Explains that gymnasts have to have undivided focus when performing skills in order to maintain control and safety.
- Explains that coaches often set goals for athletes, but the pressure that they put on them can lead an athlete to obsessiveness.
- Explains that patience is required to perform many of the skills in competitive gymnastics. once past the initial compulsory levels, athletes must create a routine of their own.
- Explains that many psychological effects such as anxiety are not self-imposed by athletes. there are ways to correct this issue of anxiety.
- Opines that it is important to consider the value of both physical and psychological effects when considering competitive gymnastics, as everyone has a different level of risk tolerance.
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Gabby Douglas: The First African-American Female Gymnast
opinion essay
Fraser, Allen. “What a great gymnastics movie should be.” The New Yorker. conde Nast, n.d. May. 17 Feb. 2014
In this essay, the author
- Opines that gabby douglas was the first african-american female gymnast in olympic history to become the individual all-around champion.
- Narrates how gabrielle christina victoria douglas, also known as "flying squirrel", was born in virginia beach, virginia. she was diagnosed with branched chain ketoaciduria, a rare blood disease.
- Narrates how gabby's mom noticed that her talent was becoming too much for the gym she was training at. after watching shawn johnson at the 2008 olympics, she knew that the olympics were a perfect fit for her.
- Describes how gabby's first major debut was at the nastia liukin cup. she then went to compete in the u.s. junior national championships, where she placed fourth all around and second on beam.
- Opines that gabby douglas has shown her true colors through the thick and thin. she proved to her family and loved ones that she had what it took to be put to the test and pass it.
- Opines that 'olympics gabby douglas hard times' should be a great gymnastics movie. fraser, allen, and michelle burford.
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Gymnasts Essay
explanatory essay
Gymnasts are more vulnerable to the onset of distorted eating than other teenagers in society, due to the very nature of what makes for athletic success in the sport. Gymnasts’ bodies have to be young, healthy, petite and muscular, therefore they have to do large amounts of conditioning and eat the proper amounts and type of food. The main factor to gymnasts being vulnerable to distorted eating is because they are at very young ages when they excel in the sport. Gymnastics is structured around young fit bodies, so these athletes are facing a lot of pure pressure and big decisions at young ages. They may start to restrict their diet because, in the sport, it is expected for them to have petite and fit bodies and they are receiving pressure from their coaches and others opinions. A Canadian study of youth gymnasts at an average age of 13.4 years old, reported that 10.5% saw themselves as overweight, 27% were worried about the way they looked and 39% reported dieting behaviors (momsteen.com). When gymnasts restrict their food intake it will not enhance their performance, instead it will harm it because of their weakened bodies condition. They decide to reduce their food intake because of what their body, as a gymnast, is supposed to look like. With the average age of gymnasts being 13.4 years old, they are at the age where it is very easy to feel insecure about their body due to others around them, but it is very unhealthy for high-level gymnasts to not be fueling their body with the proper foods thy need. The sports nature also plays a large role in how far the athletes will go for success. Gymnastics is a very involving sport that requires very long training hours for the young athletes. The proper amount of training hours for the ...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that gymnasts are more vulnerable to distorted eating than other teenagers in society due to the very nature of athletic success in the sport.
- Explains how the sports nature plays a large role in how far the athletes will go for success. gymnastics requires long training hours for the young athletes.
- Explains that gymnastics is a high-intensity sport where the goal is to maximize muscle, power, and strength through specific training and repetition.
- Explains that the "female athlete triad" is a combination of three interrelated conditions that are associated with athletic training.
890 words
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Gymnastics Essay
comparative essay
Artistic Gymnastics event were combined with the rope exercises in Australia. Progressively, the hand objects exercises were pass to the Rhythmic Gymnastics. Finally, it was included in the Olympic programme in Los Angeles 1984 Game with the individual competi...
In this essay, the author
- Compares the changes of the pass and modern rhythmic gymnastic in the olympic game.
- Explains that rhythmic gymnastics was a competitiveness sport in the soviet union and it was universally accepted by its international federation.
- Explains that the individual competition has defined to two phases which are the qualifying phase and the finals in the olympics game.
- Explains that gymnasts can use props such as ball, hoop, rope, clubs, ribbon, and plane during the routine.
- Concludes that rhythmic gymnastics still have a large area to develop in the olympic games.
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Genetic Screening and Physiological Testing in Young Athletes
opinion essay
I was stretching when I heard an overenthusiastic mother gloating on behalf of her daughter stating that her daughter was smart and capable of becoming an elite figure skater when one coach explained, “She doesn’t have the right body.” Followed by the unmistakable whimpering of a little girl crying and an arguing parent, it was clear the little girl did not meet the standard of flexibility and body composition to reach the upper echelon of figure skating that her mother expected and she wanted. Flexibility is a necessity in figure skating in order to execute technique well, while a low percentage of body fat is important for aerobic power and jump height (Winter et al. 317). Angrily storming out, the mother made it clear to the coach that she refused to pay for years of practice without the hopes of her daughter placing in competitions.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how an overenthusiastic mother gloated on behalf of her daughter stating that she was smart and capable of becoming an elite figure skater when one coach explained, "she doesn't have the right body."
- Recommends that the united states implement talent identification and search programs that utilize genetic testing and known physiological traits to identify sports that fit the individual needs of children seeking a life in athletics.
- Argues that individual athletes should use talent identification and search programs to scout young athletes for future olympics. genetic testing and testing physiological traits would remove the factor of chance and give a more accurate reading of athletes’ likeliness to reach their goals.
- Opines that there is some opposition against physiological testing and genetic screening. kevin reilly, the president of atlas sports genetics, said that making these tests and programs available might cause some parents to specialize their children too quickly and intensely.
- Explains the benefits of genetic and physiological testing for athletes, such as the increase in medal haul during the olympics.
- Explains that genetic screening and physiological tests are a necessity in the united states. other countries, such as uzbekistan, are trying to start programs that provide these tests to increase their medal haul.
- Opines that in order for the united states to stay number one in the olympics, it will have to implement measures as other countries already have.
- Opines that genetic screening and physiological testing are becoming a prevalent topic among elite athletes in sports.
- Explains the british association of sport and exercise sciences guide, volume i -sport testing.
- Explains that "talent identification testing information." rowing nsw, new south wales, 2014.
- Explains epstein's the sports gene: inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance. eshanova, ron, and synovitz, zamira.
1539 words
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Ballet
explanatory essay
Football is a very physically demanding sport. According to Taylor (1969), “Professional football is basically a physical assault by one team upon another in desperate fight for land.” (pg. 23) The body is used as weapon to prevent an opposing player from crossing into another's territory. The body must be strong and well equipped to endure the stresses of physical contact. The body is very susceptible to injury when engaging in football. It is important for those who participate in football train their bodies effectively. The same can be said for ballet. It is a physically demanding activity as well but the body is used as a form of expression. According to Huwyler M.D. (2002), “ For the dancer, his body in his means of expression, the instrument is his heart. Ballet is meant to be graceful and elegant, it does not appear to be a physically demanding sport as football is. Looks are deceiving, According to Kennedy M.D and Hodgkins M.D. (2008), “The grace and art of the ballet performance belie the great physical strain of the body as a whole. (Preface) Ballet places a great deal of strain on the body; it is important that those who participate in ballet receive adequate and effective training.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that football is a physically demanding sport. the body must be strong and well equipped to endure the stresses of physical contact. ballet is graceful and elegant.
- Opines that ballet training should begin as early as possible for children who aspire to be professional dancers.
- Opines that early ballet training should be taken seriously by the child and the instructor. bad habits, incorrect technique, and posture are difficult to correct in later stages of ballet.
- Explains that the intermediate stage of ballet training focuses on executing ballet technique such as jumping, leaps, and turns.
- Explains how bompa divided training into two phases, generalized and specialized, which are divided into the specialization and high performance ranging phases.
- Explains that the generalized stage of football training is divided into two components, initiation and athletic formation.
- Explains that the athletic formation stage is between ages eleven and fourteen and emphasizes the development of strength and strength in the core areas of the body.
- Explains that ballet and football are both physically demanding activities that require efficient training and physical conditioning to ensure optimal performance, positive progression regarding skills, and injury prevention.
- Explains that the principle of overload is pertinent in achieving excellent results in both ballet and football training.
2453 words
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High School Sports Injuries
opinion essay
An immense topic of this broad pathway is that injuries in high school athletes are on the rise. Many high school sports injuries can be prevented through proper conditioning in the off season and in the beginning of the season. They also can be presented by using the proper equipment, and methods while conditioning [Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America]. But there are also the injuries that cannot be prevented like sudden trauma injuries which account for a good chunk of high school sports injuries. Most high school athletes play sports year round; if you are playing the same sport year round then your risk of getting injured is significantly increased. This rate is increased because you are just using the few same muscles in your body, and after a while you can develop a stress fracture [Harris-Taylor]. If you are playing more than one sport year round that is excellent because you are working different muscle areas in your body. But, it is always fine to take a break from a sport for a few weeks a few times a
In this essay, the author
- Opines that prevention of sports injuries in high school and collegiate athletes is crucial not only for athletes but for the industry.
- Explains that young athletes have a higher injury rate than older males and females because they are not fully grown and their muscles and bones grow and heal slower than younger boys. preventing injuries in children is not just the athletes' worry.
- Explains that injuries in high school athletes are on the rise, and that they can be prevented through proper conditioning in the off season and the beginning of the season.
- Explains that injuries in young athletes fall into two basic categories: overuse and acute injuries. coaches and parents should be aware of the more common signs of injury, such as pain while playing and changes in form/technique.
- Opines that an injury to a high school athlete can be significant disappointment for the teen, the family, and the coaches.
- Opines that physical therapists have a great number of responsibilities when it comes to sports injuries — they help rehabilitate the injured parts in one's body so one doesn't heal the wound improperly.
- Opines that coaches have a great deal of responsibility for their players. some people's blame has been put on the coaches from the lack of attention given to the athletes while practicing, warming up, and even playing.
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Tsb Evaluation
explanatory essay
Before even exploring the internet, quite a lot of time was taken to figure out the topic for this report. Once the topic was selected, several questions and ideas were noted to research about. The University of Waterloo libraries online database was used to search for reliable sources for articles. PubMed and Google Scholar were selected as the primary sources for articles, as well as reliable and valid individual author websites. After short listing several articles related to the topic, each article was carefully read and evaluated for validity, reliability, and overall quality. After analyzing and interpreting the data of the articles, the selected topic of this report will be further explained. Three main articles were selected from three very respected journal including, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, and Fitness & Performance Journal. In order to increase experimental control as well as external validity, the articles chosen experimented in outdoors conditions which are exposed to climate conditions, as well as indoors on rubberized to minimize climate conditions (1*). References were later cited to give credit to the original author(s) of the articles. (http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/count-me-collecting-human-rights-based-data/6-what-involved-collecting-data-%E2%80%93-six-steps-success )
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the toronto district school board (tdsb) is the largest school board in canada with approximately 300,000 students.
- Explains that track and field is a diverse sport that includes running, throwing, and jumping events. warming up before the competition has two main benefits: it loosens up muscles and decreases the risk of injuries.
- Explains that the report is non-empirical as formal reasoning and implementation of programs and procedures are involved.
- Explains that a deadline was set to complete this report and have sufficient time to get it reviewed by another person. pubmed and google scholar were selected as the primary sources for articles.
- Explains that the effects of warm-ups and stretching are often overlooked by most athletes. the subjects of the three articles reviewed included male and female elite athletes on the national under 19 rugby team or collegiate track athletes
- Explains the study methods and protocols used to determine and compare the effects of one or more of the following conditions.
- Compares the time difference between wu and no preparation for the 40m sprint trials.
- Explains that sprint times across all the wu trials showed an improvement due to the warm-up effect. the improvement becomes insignificant after two 40m sprints at 3 minute intervals.
- Explains that stretching has many benefits such as increasing flexibility and range of motion to improve stride length due to increased musculotendinous compliance. the extra time required to do static stretching decreases the effects of wu on sprint performances.
- Explains that the topic isn't heavily researched for u-19 and collegiate athletes. the terrain where the sprint performances take place is made for track athletes, and random environmental obstacles are not taken into account.
- Explains that the procedures of all the research articles are efficient and provide accurate data of the effects of different protocols on sprint performance.
- Explains that pre-sprinting activities contribute to performance more than most people value it to. the athletes are randomly allocated to be tested across for one of the four different protocols and how the protocol effects sprint performance.
- Explains that the faster time in wu trials is due to a mechanism called post-activation potentiation, which leads to an increase in contractile performance.
- Explains that different coaches have different approaches to pre-sprinting routines. some coaches were less experienced and did not teach their athletes about preparations before sprinting.
- Recommends that coaches mentor their athletes to do a proper warm-up right before their sprinting event in order to get the full benefits of post-activation potentiation.
1922 words
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Is Ephedra Plant Effective in Lowering Weight and Body Fat?
comparative essay
...ls of Internal Medicine. March 18, 2003;136(6):468. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed March 29, 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the scientific names for ephedra plants, which include equisetina, intermedia, and sinica. it has been used in the past as a traditional medicine to treat symptoms of bronchial asthma, colds, influenza, allergies and hives.
- Explains the annals of internal medicine article that agreed with banning ephedra because of risk of side effects. they measured the relative risk and 95% confidence interval for experiencing an adverse event after using the product.
- Explains that ephedra contains alkaloids and six ephedrine-type ingredients at concentrations of 0.02-3.4%, which cause a stimulant and thermogenic effect.
- Concludes that ephedra is greatly associated with increased risk for adverse reactions compared to other herbs and that the use should be restricted.
- Explains the relative safety of ephedra compared with other herbal products.
1543 words
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Body Image and Eating Disorders Among Young Ballerinas
analytical essay
Ballet is a beautiful and romantic type of performance art. It originated in the Italian court systems in the 15th century (Jonas). Since its origination, ballet has undergone many changes and gained worldwide recognition. Filled with elaborate costumes, cheering audiences, lights, weightless movements and beauty; ballet is admired by many. On the magical stage ballerinas can become whoever they wan to be, and perform in a world of fantasy. For these reasons, children, especially little girls, all over the world dream of becoming ballerinas when they grow up. However, becoming a professional ballerina is an extremely difficult accomplishment, in which few will achieve (Kelso 1). The world of ballet may seem to be filled with glitz and glamor but, behind the curtain there is an entirely different story. There are extreme demands and pressures put on these young dancers to be very thin and nearly perfect. Some of which include body and weight demands, competition, and social pressures. These constant pressures can lead to a negative body-image and even debilitating eating disorders (Price and Pettijohn).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that ballet is a beautiful and romantic type of performance art. it originated in the italian court systems in 15th century.
- Explains that the body is the only tool in which a dancer has to create art and express themselves. the term body image can be defined as the way people perceive themselves in the mirror everyday.
- Explains that dance is a highly competitive, high-pressure and physically demanding profession. dance companies and schools require that their students participate in frequent weigh-ins.
- Explains that george balanchine, a world renowned dancer and choreographer, set the standards for what the ideal ballerina's body should look like.
- Analyzes how media and society play large roles in how a young person views their body. the definition of beauty is often portrayed through television, advertisements and film.
- Explains that ballet dancers must wear tight fitting dance outfits that accentuate every aspect of their body.
- Explains that price and pettijohn claim that body image concerns in dancers may be partially explained by the presence and use of mirrors in the dance environment.
- Explains that mirrors have a negative impact on body image and hinder dance skill acquisition. a negative body-image, and an obsession with weight, can cause one to change their eating habits.
- Explains that anorexia nervosa is a serious psychological and physiological disorder that affects ballet dancers.
- Explains that bulimia nervosa involves recurring binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting. the prevalence rate is higher in ballet dancers than in the regular adolescent population.
- Opines that the best chance of successful treatment of eating disorders is in early recognition and intervention.
- Explains that ballet has been a popular dance form for centuries, but it can be demanding and dangerous. the prevalence of debilitating eating disorders is higher in ballet dancers than it is in the regular population.
- Cites blanchard, kathleen, and dunning, jennifer. the incidence rate of anorexia in ballet dancers.
- Analyzes the effect of ballet dance attire on body and self-perceptions of female dancers.
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Musculoskeletal Injuries In Parkour Analysis
analytical essay
On the contrary, “Prevalence and Risk Factors of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Parkour” does not make use of pathos, but it has basically no visible influence on the piece. The article preserves neutral and objective tone and uses professional language to convey the point. There is no place for appeal to emotions, but it is compensated by the other strategies used by the authors, which are more suitable for such type of writing.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how "prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries in parkour" does not use pathos, but it has basically no visible influence on the piece.
- Analyzes how yang structures his blog post in coherent manner, especially in the part concerned with the recommendations regarding the strategies for preventing and coping with injuries.
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The Three Elements of the Female Athlete Triad
explanatory essay
For an increasing number of women in the United States, a concern or preoccupation with body weight and size is a constant pressure. Female athletes, like most women in our society, are also often pressured to conform to certain ideal body sizes and shapes, as dictated by the entertainment and fashion industries. Female athletes, however, face a twofold pressure. They face the burden that our culture places on all women to be thin, but they also face the burden from coaches, parents, and other athletes to succeed in sports and look good doing so by maintaining an unrealistically low weight. When weight gain means removal from a team or elimination from competition, many female athletes turn to dangerous food restriction and excessive exercise. This pressure to achieve or maintain unrealistically low body weight underlies the development of a syndrome recently named the Female Athlete Triad. First identified by the American College of Sports Medicine in 1992, the Female Athlete Triad consists of three medical disorders commonly found in female athletes: disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. Alone each disorder is dangerous; in combination the triad disorders are potentially fatal.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the female athlete triad, which consists of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis.
- Explains that there are limited studies on the prevalence of disordered eating among female athletes and their eating patterns.
- Explains that low estrogen levels from amenorrhea can contribute to poor bone mineral density and premature osteoporosis in active young women.
- Argues that the real danger associated with osteoporosis at such a young age is the fact that studies suggest that bone mineral density lost due to amenorrhea may be completely or at least partly irreversible even with calcium supplementation, resumption of menses, and estrogen replacement therapy.
- Explains that a survey to identify risk factors for the female athlete triad was administered to experienced ballet dancers between the ages of 15 and 19.
- States that amenorrhea is the absence of menses for at least three months as a result of hypothalamic dysfunction associated with starvation and weight loss.
- Opines that the female athlete triad is still a relatively new discovery, and further studies are needed in many areas related to it.
- Explains that anorexia nervosa affects fertility and reproduction in women. cann, c.e., mmartin, genant, h.k.
- Explains rush, s.r, joy, e.a., bainbridge, c.n, macintyre, j.g. survey of female athlete triad traits in dancers.
- Explains that weight gain does not increase bone density in women with eating disorders.
2690 words
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Essay On Female Athlete Triad
explanatory essay
The female athlete triad consists of three parts; disordered eating i.e. anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. “Originally termed ‘female athlete triad,’ the name was derived at a meeting led by members of the American College of Sports Medicine in the early 1990s” (Kazis & Iglesias). The meeting was held due to an alarming increase in stress fracture rates, decrease in bone mineral density, and menstrual dysfunction. In 1972, the passage of Title IX was passed that mandated equal athletic opportunities for men and women. Since then, there has been a record high of almost 2 million female athletes participating in high school and college level sports. With the increase of female athletes, there is also an increase of competition whether it is to be the fastest, strongest, or skinniest. Athletes either at a collegiate level or an elite level, have unrealistic expectations placed on them to maintain a low body weight. Pressure to attain a perfect body can come from all different outside forces, such as: coaches, teammates, parents, siblings, and the athlete herself. The obsession to achieve this goal can lead to other health-relating problems such weakening bone density which will lead to stress fractures and irregular menstruations which can possibly lead to fertility issues in the future.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the female athlete triad consists of disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis.
- Explains that disordered eating includes a spectrum of abnormal eating behaviors that range from mild restricting behaviors to occasional binging and purging.
- Explains the criterion for bulimia nervosa: body image distortion, binge eating and purging, laxatives, diuretics, or excessive exercising.
- Explains that societal pressures to be thin, excessive dieting, low self-esteem, family discord, physical or sexual abuse, and issues of control may play a role in precipitating eating disorders.
- Advises that athletes, coaches, and family members should be educated in identifying and treating any type of disordered eating and given rules of adequate calorie intake.
- Explains that amenorrhea occurs in about 2-5% of nonathletes, but in some cases with athletes rates as high at 66% have been reported.
- Explains that exercise does not cause amenorrhea, but it is more likely to occur in women who exercise very intensely or increase the intensity of their exercise rapidly.
- Explains that elite ballet dancers, who initiate physical training prior to menarche, had a delayed average age of 16 years versus 12 years, and developed secondary amenorrhea.
- Explains that hypothalamic amenorrhea affects athletes due to physical and mental stress of their sport or activity and the desire to maintain a slimming figure.
- Explains that treatment for amenorrhea depends on the type and causes of the disorder.
- Explains that osteoporosis is the third part of the female athlete triad.
- Explains that females during their adolescent time period are at the highest risk for decreased bone mass density (bmd) because it is critical for bone development.
- Explains the risk factors for osteoporosis that may involve adolescent females include smoking and the consumption of soft drinks, both of which can be related back to disordered eating.
- Explains that 85% of adolescent females do not reach the recommended calcium intake due to the stress of maintaining slimming figure. eating disorders tend to avoid dairy products because of the calorie intake.
- Opines that there is no cure for osteoporosis other than to educate athletes on the consequences of their actions that can lead to future health problems.
- Opines that prevention is better than actual treatment, but prevention in athletes is a difficult task due to the nature of the game.
- Opines that it is important for health care providers to evaluate female athletes for the three different disorders and educate them about each one.
- Opines that early identification and education of athletes, coaches, and parents are the only way to prevent the female athlete triad from arising and causing future health problems.
1959 words
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