Citation

Thein-Nissenbaum JM, Rauh MJ, Carr KE, Loud KJ, McGuine TA. J. Orthop. Sports Phys. Ther. 2011; 41(2): 60-69.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Orthopaedic Section and Sports Physical Therapy Section of the American Physical Therapy Association)

DOI

10.2519/jospt.2011.3312

PMID

21212503

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of 311 female high school athletes competing on 33 interscholastic high school teams during the 2006-2007 school year. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of and association between disordered eating (DE), menstrual dysfunction (MD), and musculoskeletal injury (MI) among high school female athletes. BACKGROUND: Female athlete triad (Triad) syndrome is the interrelatedness of DE, MD, and low bone mass. Few studies have examined 2 or more Triad components simultaneously, or their relationship to injury, among female high school athletes. METHODS: The subject sample consisted of 311 female high school athletes competing on 33 interscholastic high school teams during the 2006-2007 school year. Athletes completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Healthy Wisconsin High School Female Athletes Survey (HWHSFAS). Athletes were classified by sport type as aesthetic (AES), endurance (END), or team/anaerobic (T/A). RESULTS: Of those surveyed, 35.4% reported DE, 18.8% reported MD, and 65.6% reported sustaining a sports-related musculoskeletal injury during the current sports season. Athletes reporting DE were twice as likely to be injured compared to those reporting normal eating behaviors [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4, 4.0]. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that athletes who reported a history of DE (OR= 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.9) or prior injury (OR= 5.1, 95% CI: 2.9, 8.9) were more likely to be injured during the sports season. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of DE and MD exists among high school female athletes. Additionally, athletes with DE were over 2 times more likely to sustain a sports-related injury during a sports season. Screening and intervention programs designed to identify and decrease the prevalence of DE should be implemented with high school females. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, Level 1C. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 5 January 2011. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.3312.

Language: en