Research says Females Sporters Have Shortfalls in Screening Methods

Female sports enthusiasts, particularly those associated with high-level college sporting events with the NCAA Division I level, are normally prone to a trio of medical issues referred to as "female athlete triad." New research conducted by sports medicine scientists with the Medical College of Wisconsin found there are a few possible shortfalls in the methods used to screen majority of these athletes for the triad, understanding that could put athletes in danger of lifelong health issues.

The researchers surveyed 257 NCAA Division I academic institutions to determine when and the way often athletes had health backgrounds and physical exams performed, and also to evaluate the content of a pre-participation study form used to further determine athletes' health.

Of particular awareness towards the research team was if the exams and forms completely screen for female athlete triad. The triad is an interrelationship between energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density; researchers have found that in lots of sports, women don't take in enough nutritional consumption (some have eating disorders), which ends up in amenorrhea (deficiency of menstrual periods), and bone loss density and strength.

The scientists suggest further study to explore the most susceptible and specific items to actually comprise at the screening tool for the Female Athlete Triad.