scholarly journals Recommendations and Nutritional Considerations for Female Athletes: Health and Performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Holtzman ◽  
Kathryn E. Ackerman
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
Menstrual Patterns ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Methodological Considerations ◽  
Hormonal Milieu ◽  
Future Work

AbstractOptimal nutrition is an important aspect of an athlete’s preparation to achieve optimal health and performance. While general concepts about micro- and macronutrients and timing of food and fluids are addressed in sports science, rarely are the specific effects of women’s physiology on energy and fluid needs highly considered in research or clinical practice. Women differ from men not only in size, but in body composition and hormonal milieu, and also differ from one another. Their monthly hormonal cycles, with fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, have varying effects on metabolism and fluid retention. Such cycles can change from month to month, can be suppressed with exogenous hormones, and may even be manipulated to capitalize on ideal timing for performance. But before such physiology can be manipulated, its relationship with nutrition and performance must be understood. This review will address general concepts regarding substrate metabolism in women versus men, common menstrual patterns of female athletes, nutrient and hydration needs during different phases of the menstrual cycle, and health and performance issues related to menstrual cycle disruption. We will discuss up-to-date recommendations for fueling female athletes, describe areas that require further exploration, and address methodological considerations to inform future work in this important area.

scholarly journals Sportsanthropometric and performance parameters of elite rock ‘n’ roll dancers

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
Anna Fritzsche ◽  
Jürgen Fritzsche
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Upper And Lower Extremities ◽  
Long Jump ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Rock N Roll ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The One ◽  
Male Subjects

Rock ‘n’ roll dancing is one of the technical compositional sports. The current state of scientific knowledge on it can be described as minimal. To change this state, the first sports science survey regarding squad training was conducted under the guidance of the authors at the Austrian national rock ‘n’ roll team. The study group consisted of 26 A, B and C level athletes in the sport of rock ‘n’ roll acrobatics. The mean BMI of the male athletes with the mean age of 23.0 years was 23.3 kg/m2. The female subjects’ mean age was 19.5 years and their mean BMI 19.8 kg/m2. The bounce values of the men were as follows: squat jump (SQJ) 37.1 cm and counter- movement jump (CMJ) 41.9 cm. Men’s mean result in long jump was 256.0 cm. The women had a lower mean bounce of 25.8 cm and 27.2 cm in SQJ and CMJ respectively. Their mean length of the long jump was 204.6 cm. The anthropometric data showed that the male subjects’ mean body height was 1.81 m and weight 76.2 kg. The BIA measurement yielded a value of 15.8% body fat. The women’s mean height was 1.64 m and percentage of passive body substance 23.5%; their mean weight was 53.4 kg. The waist/hip ratio was 0.9 in both men and women. The Broca index was 1.2% in women and 6% in men. The AKS-index reached 1.02 in men and 0.91 in women. Data were collected to determine the one-repetition maximum (1RM) of the upper and lower extremities: lat pulldowns (m: 76.9 kg; w: 39.4 kg), rowing (m: 58.1 kg; w: 31.9 kg), bench press (m: 75.0 kg; w: 33.8 kg) and knee flexion (90°) (m: 82.1 kg; w: 44.7 kg). The result of the sit and reach test was 7.8 cm for male subjects and 16.2 cm for female athletes.

What male coaches want to know about the menstrual cycle in women’s team sports: Performance, health, and communication

2021 ◽  
pp. 174795412198923
Author(s):  
Anthea Clarke ◽  
Andrew Govus ◽  
Alex Donaldson
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Concept Mapping ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Team Sports ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Team Sport ◽  
Sports Performance ◽  
Comprehensive Education ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Training Need

This study aimed to identify what male coaches of elite female team sport athletes want to know about the menstrual cycle and its influence on athlete health and performance. Using a mixed-methods concept mapping approach, 18 male coaches of Australian female elite football-codes brainstormed what they wanted to know about the menstrual cycle to work more effectively with female athletes. Ideas were sorted into groups of similar ideas and rated for importance and influence. Thirty-eight unique statements emerged from the brainstorming. These were organised into five clusters/topics following multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis: 1) How does training need to be managed; 2) How is physical performance impacted; 3) What are the medical and dietary considerations; 4) When and how should we communicate with athletes; and 5) How are athletes affected psychologically and emotionally. These findings highlight the need for a comprehensive education framework to improve the knowledge of and practices related to the menstrual cycle. This education should 1) facilitate better recognition and referral of female athletes regarding menstrual cycle dysfunction and related health concerns; 2) encourage collaboration between athletes, coaches, and medical and dietary professionals; and 3) promote effective communication between athletes and coaches about the menstrual cycle.

Female Olympians’ voices: Female sports categories and International Olympic Committee Transgender guidelines

2021 ◽  
pp. 101269022110215
Author(s):  
Cathy Devine
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
International Olympic Committee ◽  
Political Discourses ◽  
Fair Competition ◽  
Fair Inclusion ◽  
Female Sports ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Unanimous Agreement

The fair inclusion of female athletes at elite and Olympic levels is secured in most sports by way of female categories because of the extensively documented biological and performance-related differences between the sexes. International policy for transgender inclusion is framed by the definitive International Olympic Committee transgender guidelines in which the International Olympic Committee confirms the ‘overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition’ and transwomen can be excluded from female categories if, in the interests of fairness, this is necessary and proportionate. Feminist theorists argue justice requires that women have equal moral standing in the sociocultural–political structures of society including sport. As such their voices should carry equal democratic weight. However, female elite and Olympic athletes are rarely heard in the sociocultural–political discourses of academic literature or policy formulation for transgender inclusion in female categories by the International Olympic Committee and governing bodies of sport. This empirical study investigated the views and presents the ‘voices’ of 19 female Olympians. The main findings include (1) these athletes thought both female and transgender athletes should be fairly included in elite sport, (2) unanimous agreement there is not enough scientific evidence to show no competitive advantage for transwomen, (3) unanimous agreement that the International Olympic Committee should revisit the rules and scientific evidence for transgender inclusion in female categories, and (4) the majority of athletes felt that they could not ask questions or discuss this issue without being accused of transphobia.

scholarly journals Wearable Technologies in Field Hockey Competitions: A Scoping Review

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5242
Author(s):  
Jolene Ziyuan Lim ◽  
Alexiaa Sim ◽  
Pui Wah Kong
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Inertial Sensors ◽  
Wearable Devices ◽  
Field Hockey ◽  
Heart Rate Monitors ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Physiological Demands ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Skin Temperatures

The aim of this review is to investigate the common wearable devices currently used in field hockey competitions, and to understand the hockey-specific parameters these devices measure. A systematic search was conducted by using three electronic databases and search terms that included field hockey, wearables, accelerometers, inertial sensors, global positioning system (GPS), heart rate monitors, load, performance analysis, player activity profiles, and competitions from the earliest record. The review included 39 studies that used wearable devices during competitions. GPS units were found to be the most common wearable in elite field hockey competitions, followed by heart rate monitors. Wearables in field hockey are mostly used to measure player activity profiles and physiological demands. Inconsistencies in sampling rates and performance bands make comparisons between studies challenging. Nonetheless, this review demonstrated that wearable devices are being used for various applications in field hockey. Researchers, engineers, coaches, and sport scientists can consider using GPS units of higher sampling rates, as well as including additional variables such as skin temperatures and injury associations, to provide a more thorough evaluation of players’ physical and physiological performances. Future work should include goalkeepers and non-elite players who are less studied in the current literature.

scholarly journals Does Each Menstrual Cycle Elicit a Distinct Effect on Olfactory and Gustatory Perception?

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2509
Author(s):  
Žana Stanić ◽  
Ajka Pribisalić ◽  
Maria Bošković ◽  
Jasna Bućan Cvitanić ◽  
Kristina Boban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Intensity Perception ◽  
Anovulatory Cycle ◽  
Sweet Solution ◽  
Additional Control ◽  
Test Kit ◽  
Hormonal Milieu ◽  
Gustatory Perception ◽  
One Way Anova

The obesity pandemic has brought forth a scientific interest in food intake and sensory perception interactions. Olfactory perception and gustatory perception are very complex and under the influence of many factors, including the menstrual cycle. This study aims to clarify conflicting findings on the influence of the menstrual cycle on olfactory and gustatory perception. Women were assessed during four consecutive phases of one complete cycle (mid-follicular, ovulatory, mid-luteal, and late luteal phases (N = 21)), in contrast to women measured across the same phases belonging to two menstrual cycles (N = 29). Additional control groups were men (N = 17), postmenopausal women (N = 14), oral contraceptive users (N = 10), and women with an anovulatory cycle (N = 8). Olfactory threshold, odor discrimination, and identification were tested using the “Sniffin Sticks“ test kit. Suprathreshold intensity and hedonic ratings for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter solutions were assessed. One-way ANOVA and ANOVA for repeated measurements was applied in the analysis, along with linear and trigonometric data fitting and linear mixed models. Linear increases in olfactory discrimination, identification, and overall olfactory performance were observed only in women followed across a complete menstrual cycle. Compared to other groups, these women displayed a cyclic pattern characterized by a predilection for sweet solution; reduced distaste for salty and sour solutions; and increased intensity perception of salty, sour, and bitter solutions towards the end of the cycle. These results suggest that a distinct hormonal milieu of a complete menstrual cycle may be affecting both olfactory and gustatory perception.

scholarly journals Methodological Approach of the Iron and Muscular Damage: Female Metabolism and Menstrual Cycle during Exercise Project (IronFEMME Study)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 735
Author(s):  
Ana B. Peinado ◽  
Victor M. Alfaro-Magallanes ◽  
Nuria Romero-Parra ◽  
Laura Barba-Moreno ◽  
Beatriz Rael ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Resistance Exercise ◽  
Muscle Damage ◽  
Sex Hormones ◽  
Iron Metabolism ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Exercise Protocol

Background: The increase in exercise levels in the last few years among professional and recreational female athletes has led to an increased scientific interest about sports health and performance in the female athlete population. The purpose of the IronFEMME Study described in this protocol article is to determine the influence of different hormonal profiles on iron metabolism in response to endurance exercise, and the main markers of muscle damage in response to resistance exercise; both in eumenorrheic, oral contraceptive (OC) users and postmenopausal well-trained women. Methods: This project is an observational controlled randomized counterbalanced study. One hundered and four (104) active and healthy women were selected to participate in the IronFEMME Study, 57 of which were eumenorrheic, 31 OC users and 16 postmenopausal. The project consisted of two sections carried out at the same time: iron metabolism (study I) and muscle damage (study II). For the study I, the exercise protocol consisted of an interval running test (eight bouts of 3 min at 85% of the maximal aerobic speed), whereas the study II protocol was an eccentric-based resistance exercise protocol (10 sets of 10 repetitions of plate-loaded barbell parallel back squats at 60% of their one repetition maximum (1RM) with 2 min of recovery between sets). In both studies, eumenorrheic participants were evaluated at three specific moments of the menstrual cycle: early-follicular phase, late-follicular phase and mid-luteal phase; OC users performed the trial at two moments: withdrawal phase and active pill phase. Lastly, postmenopausal women were only tested once, since their hormonal status does not fluctuate. The three-step method was used to verify the menstrual cycle phase: calendar counting, blood test confirmation, and urine-based ovulation kits. Blood samples were obtained to measure sex hormones, iron metabolism parameters, and muscle damage related markers. Discussion: IronFEMME Study has been designed to increase the knowledge regarding the influence of sex hormones on some aspects of the exercise-related female physiology. Iron metabolism and exercise-induced muscle damage will be studied considering the different reproductive status present throughout well-trained females’ lifespan.

scholarly journals Expectancy of Stress-Reducing Aromatherapy Effect and Performance on a Stress-Sensitive Cognitive Task

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Chamine ◽  
Barry S. Oken
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
N200 Amplitude ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
And Performance

Objective. Stress-reducing therapies help maintain cognitive performance during stress. Aromatherapy is popular for stress reduction, but its effectiveness and mechanism are unclear. This study examined stress-reducing effects of aromatherapy on cognitive function using the go/no-go (GNG) task performance and event related potentials (ERP) components sensitive to stress. The study also assessed the importance of expectancy in aromatherapy actions.Methods. 81 adults were randomized to 3 aroma groups (active experimental, detectable, and undetectable placebo) and 2 prime subgroups (prime suggesting stress-reducing aroma effects or no-prime). GNG performance, ERPs, subjective expected aroma effects, and stress ratings were assessed at baseline and poststress.Results. No specific aroma effects on stress or cognition were observed. However, regardless of experienced aroma, people receiving a prime displayed faster poststress median reaction times than those receiving no prime. A significant interaction for N200 amplitude indicated divergent ERP patterns between baseline and poststress for go and no-go stimuli depending on the prime subgroup. Furthermore, trends for beneficial prime effects were shown on poststress no-go N200/P300 latencies and N200 amplitude.Conclusion. While there were no aroma-specific effects on stress or cognition, these results highlight the role of expectancy for poststress response inhibition and attention.

An Alternate Approach to Military Rations for Optimal Health and Performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla-Anne Lenferna De La Motte ◽  
Grant Schofield ◽  
Helen Kilding ◽  
Caryn Zinn
Keyword(s):  
Total Energy ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Sufficient Energy ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACT Introduction Operational ration packs are the sole source of nutrition when military personnel cannot access fresh food and field kitchens due to deployment and training in remote and hostile locations. They should be light, durable, nutrient rich, and contain sufficient energy to ensure that the personnel can carry out the expected duties. The macronutrient composition of rations has remained relatively unchanged despite escalating concerns related to the health and operational readiness of personnel globally. Currently, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) provides the personnel with a 24-hour ration pack. The aims of this study were to (1) analyse the nutrient content, cost, and weight of the NZDF-supplied ration pack and (2) develop and analyse an alternate ration pack. The alternate ration pack was designed with the intention of improving overall quality and macronutrient distribution ratio, to align with optimal health and performance outcomes. Materials and Methods Nutrient and weight analyses of the NZDF and alternate ration packs were conducted using nutrition analysis software Foodworks V. 10 (Xyris software). The ration packs were costed using information from the NZDF and from commercial online shopping websites (particularly Countdown supermarket and an online shop, iHerb). Data from nutrition panels were entered into Foodworks V. 10 (Xyris software). The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author. Results The NZDF-supplied ration pack cost 37.00 NZD and contained an excessive amount of sugar (636 g or 46% total energy) and marginally insufficient protein (118.7 g or 9% total energy) to sustain physically active military personnel. Comparatively, the alternate ration pack was more costly (63.55 NZD) and contained significantly less sugar (74.6 g or 7.2% total energy) and exceeded protein (263.1 g or 26% total energy) requirements for physically active military personnel. Furthermore, the alternate ration pack was significantly lighter (0.71 kg) than the NZDF ration pack (1.4 kg). In summary, the alternate ration was nutritionally superior and lighter when compared to the currently supplied NZDF ration, but more expensive when purchased as a one-off. Conclusions This work highlights the shortcomings of currently supplied military rations packs (i.e., excessive sugar and marginally inadequate protein) and proposes a novel alternate approach to ration pack formulation. This approach would significantly reduce sugar and increase protein and fat content in military rations. Although this work indicates that the alternate approach (which would produce lighter and nutritionally superior rations) is more costly, this cost could be reduced significantly through bulk purchasing and purpose-built rations and food items. Considering these findings, field user-testing of the alternate ration pack is recommended and subsequent reformulation of guidelines for ration pack development, as appropriate.

scholarly journals Portuguese Football Federation consensus statement 2020: nutrition and performance in football

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. e001082
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Abreu ◽  
Pedro Figueiredo ◽  
Paulo Beckert ◽  
José P Marques ◽  
Samuel Amorim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Physiological Demands ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Nutritional Strategies ◽  
Practical Constraints ◽  
Practical Recommendations

Nutrition is an undeniable part of promoting health and performance among football (soccer) players. Nevertheless, nutritional strategies adopted in elite football can vary significantly depending on culture, habit and practical constraints and might not always be supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, a group of 28 Portuguese experts on sports nutrition, sports science and sports medicine sought to discuss current practices in the elite football landscape and review the existing evidence on nutritional strategies to be applied when supporting football players. Starting from understanding football’s physical and physiological demands, five different moments were identified: preparing to play, match-day, recovery after matches, between matches and during injury or rehabilitation periods. When applicable, specificities of nutritional support to young athletes and female players were also addressed. The result is a set of practical recommendations that gathered consensus among involved experts, highlighting carbohydrates periodisation, hydration and conscious use of dietary supplements.

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