If REDS impacts sex hormones regulation -how might it impact female exercise performances?
decreased reproductive helth
- estorgen –> amenorreah, oligomenorreah
- testoterone –> muscle development, metbolism, bone health
how reds impacts performance
- phsyhological
- cardiovascular
- gastrointentinal
- metbaolic
- immunological
- hormonal
- reproductive
- bone health
decrease in estrogen by overaires and therefore a decrease in blood levels of estrogen which are importnat for bone growth and maintenac eof addition reprouction.
In females, chronic LEA can lead to hypothalamic amenorrhea, where reduced GnRH secretion lowers FSH and LH output from the anterior pituitary gland, inhibiting the follicular phase to proceed. Lower estrogen levels compromise bone mineral density; primarily via the RANK/RANKL/OPG system (Boyce & Xing, 2007). The end result of this pathway is that osteoclasts, which reabsorb and break down bone, increase in number. Although these hormonal fluctuations primarily disrupt menstrual function and bone mineral density, they also have important implications for ACL injury risk. Post-pubescent female athletes experience a higher rate of non-contact ACL ruptures (Powers et al., 2021), partly because rising estrogen during the follicular and ovulatory phases increases ligament laxity and alters neuromuscular control, creating movement patterns that heighten vulnerability to injury (Herzberg et al., 2017; Somerson et al., 2019). Additionally, female athletes with relatively weak hamstrings compared to their quadriceps are at higher risk for non-contact ACL injuries, reinforcing the need for prevention programs that target neuromuscular control and posterior-chain strength through hamstring-focused training, eccentric work, plyometrics, technique refinement, and progressively challenging athletes under fatigue (Myer et al., 2009). Ultimately, recognizing these physiological factors allows us to design athlete-centered training environments that adequately fuel, strengthen, and safeguard female athletes across all stages of development.
LEA
low energy availability
what are the main sources the body uses energy for and which is affected by REDS
thermic effect of food
exercse
non-exercise activity thermogenesis
*basal metabolic rate +growth
what does reds stand for
relative energy deficient in sports
impact of reds on the body
physiological
cardiovascular
gastronitential
metabolic
immunology
hormonal
reproductive
bone health
how does reds impact performance
amenorrhea
oligomenorrhea
muscle development
metabolism
decrease glycogen storage therefor earlier fatigue , slow recovery
