EBSCO-FullText-03_23_2025

Objective of the Study

• Investigates the prevalence and factors associated with stress fractures (SF), menstrual dysfunction (MD), and eating disorders (ED) in high school athletes in Japan.

Study Design

• Cross-sectional study involving 1199 high-level high school track and field athletes (608 males and 591 females) in selective training camps from 2021-2023.

• Data collected through voluntary questionnaires about health history, practice hours, and training specifics.

Key Findings

Prevalence

• Stress Fractures: ~25% of both male and female athletes reported having stress fractures.

• Menstrual Dysfunction: 34% of female athletes reported a history of MD. Long-distance event participants had higher rates of MD compared to sprinters, throwers, or jumpers.

• Eating Disorders: Low self-reported ED history (1.6% in males and 3.4% in females), often associated with long-distance events.

Factors Associated with Conditions

Stress Fractures

• Relevant Factors:

  • Length of weekly training hours

  • Athletic discipline (sprinting and middle-distance events are more prone to SF)

• Logistic Regression Findings:

  • Higher training hours per week increase SF risk (Adjusted OR: 1.08).

  • Events with higher impact and acceleration lead to increased SF risk (e.g., sprinting, jumping).

Menstrual Dysfunction

• Associated Factors:

  • Athletic discipline (especially middle and long-distance events)

  • History of eating disorders (ED).

• Logistic Regression Findings:

  • Long-distance athletes are at higher risk for MD (Adjusted OR: 2.87).

  • Low BMI correlated with higher risk of MD (Adjusted OR: 0.93).

Discussion

• Emphasizes the urgency of addressing health issues in athletes, particularly in young female athletes who may be impacted by the female athlete triad (ED, MD, osteoporosis).

• Highlights the need for education about ED and MD in sports, especially in endurance disciplines.

Limitations of the Study

• Cross-sectional design makes determining causality impossible.

• Retrospective self-reported data might lead to underreporting due to embarrassment or lack of awareness.

• Limited representation in long-distance events due to fewer participants during training camps.

Conclusion

• Approximately a quarter of Japanese high school track and field athletes experience SF, with one-third of female athletes reporting MD.

• Identified differences in event specialty, weekly training hours, and ED history warrant further investigation and attention in sports medicine practices.