Alpine Physical Therapy
  • Home
  • Approaches
    • Aquatic Therapy
    • CoreAlign®
    • IASTM
    • Functional Dry Needling
    • Pilates-based rehabilitation
    • PRRT™
    • Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging
    • Work Injury Management
  • Programs
    • Bone Health
    • Dance Medicine
    • Lymphedema Management
    • Oncology Rehabilitation
    • Pain Science
    • Post-Operative Rehabilitation
    • Spine Rehabilitation
    • Sports Rehabilitation
    • Vestibular & Balance
    • Pelvic Health
  • Patients
    • Patient Stories
    • Locations
    • Resources >
      • Conditions
      • Health Information
      • Pain Education Resources
      • Occupational Health
      • Links
      • Insurance Information
      • Product Resources
    • Online Bill Pay
    • Paperwork
  • About Us
    • Our Therapists >
      • Ana Soulia
      • Angela Listug-Vap
      • Antara Quiñones
      • Brent Dodge
      • Brace Hayden
      • Dennis McCrea
      • Francisco Quiñones
      • Gary Gales
      • Jeff Soulia
      • Jessica Kehoe
      • Jocee Long
      • Josie Stokken
      • Kimberly Mize
      • Kristi Moore
      • Leah Versteegen
      • Lisa Hamilton
      • Mary Mischke
      • Matt Schweitzer
      • Megan Fisher
      • Samantha Schmidt
    • Certifications
    • Community Outreach
    • Why Alpine?
    • Patient Reviews
    • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Approaches
    • Aquatic Therapy
    • CoreAlign®
    • IASTM
    • Functional Dry Needling
    • Pilates-based rehabilitation
    • PRRT™
    • Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging
    • Work Injury Management
  • Programs
    • Bone Health
    • Dance Medicine
    • Lymphedema Management
    • Oncology Rehabilitation
    • Pain Science
    • Post-Operative Rehabilitation
    • Spine Rehabilitation
    • Sports Rehabilitation
    • Vestibular & Balance
    • Pelvic Health
  • Patients
    • Patient Stories
    • Locations
    • Resources >
      • Conditions
      • Health Information
      • Pain Education Resources
      • Occupational Health
      • Links
      • Insurance Information
      • Product Resources
    • Online Bill Pay
    • Paperwork
  • About Us
    • Our Therapists >
      • Ana Soulia
      • Angela Listug-Vap
      • Antara Quiñones
      • Brent Dodge
      • Brace Hayden
      • Dennis McCrea
      • Francisco Quiñones
      • Gary Gales
      • Jeff Soulia
      • Jessica Kehoe
      • Jocee Long
      • Josie Stokken
      • Kimberly Mize
      • Kristi Moore
      • Leah Versteegen
      • Lisa Hamilton
      • Mary Mischke
      • Matt Schweitzer
      • Megan Fisher
      • Samantha Schmidt
    • Certifications
    • Community Outreach
    • Why Alpine?
    • Patient Reviews
    • Events
  • Blog
  • Contact
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

2/2/2014 0 Comments

Know The Signs and Realities of the “Female Athlete Triad” - By Leah Versteegen

Our thanks to Alpine’s Leah Versteegen, DPT, who presented her findings on this important topic at our inservice last week. This is vital information for healthcare providers and for everyone who knows or works with female athletes.

************

The number of female athletes has grown tremendously since the advent of Title IX. Alongside this growth have come both trials and tribulations associated with the participation of young females participating in sports. One of the trials has been educating and preparing these young minds and bodies for the stresses accompanying athletic competition. The Female Athlete Triad was identified originally in the 1980’s. It is currently defined as a syndrome of three interrelated conditions that present on a continuum; however, a fourth condition has also recently been described along this continuum. Each is listed and described here:
  1. Low energy availability. An athlete’s dietary energy intake not enough to fuel their exercise energy expenditure. This can be due to either unintentional or intentional poor eating habits
  2. Prolonged menstrual dysfunction or hypothalamic dysfunction. An athlete misses several menstrual cycles or altogether lacks menstruation. This happens as they lack proper energy/Caloric intake, and the hypothalamus does not properly release certain hormones.
  3. Low bone density. This is the most severe condition of the spectrum and occurs as a result of the hormone imbalance accompanying menstrual dysfunction.
  4. Cardiovascular disease. Another result of the hormonal imbalance is plaque build up and onset of hypertension leading to cardiovascular disease at a young age.

There are many possible contributing factors to the onset of the female athlete triad, among which are poor nutritional knowledge, athletes simply not paying attention to what they eat during the day, diet trends, pressure from peers/coaches/parents to perform, the misconception that thinner means faster, pressure on appearance in aesthetic sports, or an overall obsession with exercise.  Whatever the cause, it is our role as health care providers, coaches, parents, and friends to identify the red flags that are associated with the Female Athlete Triad. Early detection and proper support including nutritional education for these young athletes is key.

Some of the red flags that we can look out for include:
  • Obsessive exercising outside of practice time/ rehab time
  • Low energy/fatigue
  • Slow healing time
  • No menstruation by age 15
  • Unable to cope with injury: disproportionate anger or fear regarding injury or increased stress due to missed practice/exercise time
  • Obsessive discussion of return to sport
  • Orthostatic hypotension (a sign of disordered eating patterns
  •  Cold/discolored hands and feet
  •  Elevated LDL and plasma cholesterol
  • Depression or insomnia
  • Recurrent musculoskeletal injuries, particularly stress fractures
  •  Excessive focus on food and/or puposeful low Caloric intake

While it is important to be aware of the red flags associated with the female athlete triad and how to properly identify those at risk, it can be too late if we wait to see those red flags. Early prevention is essential. We must improve our awareness of how we talk about food choices and body image to our youth. It is essential that we all understand that food is a source of energy and that positive food choices fuel our bodies for general health, brain function, and improved athletic performance. Regardless of risk factors or red flags, our children should have a sound nutritional knowledge base that can prepare them for sport AND for life beyond sport.  Part II of this blog will discuss basic nutrition for the young athlete.

For more information, contact Alpine Physical Therapy by calling 406-251-2323.
​
Leah Versteegen, DPT
Alpine Physical Therapy, South
5000 Blue Mountain Rd.
Missoula, MT 59804
(406) 251-2323
www.AlpinePTmissoula.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Brent Dodge is the founding owner of Alpine Physical Therapy and is a board certified orthopedic specialist. He holds additional certifications in Functional Dry Needling, Manual Physical Therapy, and Strength and Conditioning.

    Categories

    All Alpine Physical Therapy Alpine Soccer Team Alpine Softball Alzheimer's Disease American Cancer Society Ana Soulia Angela Listug Vap Angela Listug-Vap Ankle Sprains Antara Quinones Aquatics Audrey Elias Back Pain Balance Biking Boston Marathon Brace Hayden Brent Dodge Cancer CDC Certified Chiropractic Climbing Concussion CoreAlign Core Studio Crossfit Dance Medicine Dennis McCrea Diabetes Diane Cummins Diva Day Dr. Liz Walker Eating Emily Jones Ergonomics Events Excercises Fall Prevention Fall Prevention Awareness Day Fishing Fitness Fit To Fight Foot Pain Functional Dry Needling Gary Gales Golf Good Food Store Headaches Health Her Health Hiking Hip Pain Jamie Terry Jeannette Kittredge Jessica Kehoe Jonathan Hoffman's Foundation Training Josie Sweeney Kayla Johnson Kerri Houck Knee Pain Kristi Moore Leah Versteegen Lindsy Campbell Linsey Olson Low Back Pain LYMPHEDEMA Mary Mischke Matt Schweitzer MISA Missoula Marathon Missoula's Choice Moms Montana Geriatric Society Morgan York Singer Morgan York-Singer MT Alpha Cycling National Cancer Institute National Falls Awareness Neck Pain Oncology Rehab Program Pain Pamela Pack Peak Health & Wellness Center Peak Triathlon Pelvic Pain Physical Therapy Physical Therapy (Journal) Pilates Primal Practice Relay For Life Resources Roger Sperry Ron Clijsen Ron Veilleux Runner's Edge Running Samantha Glaes Sam Schmidt Sarah McMillan Shoulder Pain Sitting Skiing Skye Folsom Soccer Spine Magazine Spine Rehab Sports STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents Tai Chi Tamarack Brewing Company Tara Mund The Runner's Clinic Tips Travis Dye Ultrasound Imaging University Of Montana Urinary Incontinence Walking Wellness Wellness Program Westside Dance Physical Therapy Who Is Perfect? Women's Health

    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    RSS Feed

Picture

Connect with us

Get to know us better. Our social media platforms are a great way to learn about our staff, upcoming events, newest technology, patient stories, and more.

who we are

Leading innovation in health and wellness for our community, delivering compassionate care, and inspiring through education.

Sign up for email

Know what’s new. Plus, get a free consultation!

ALPINE EVENTS CALENDAR

Picture
Picture
​HIPAA notice of privacy practices
Notice of Nondiscrimination and Language Assistance
Copyright © 2018 Alpine Physical Therapy • All Rights Reserved
Site by Aesir Consulting