Hypertension during Weight Lifting Reduces Flow-Mediated Dilation in Nonathletes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased intraluminal pressure is the damaging factor that reduces flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in young, healthy subjects after resistance exercise to maximal exertion.

Hypothesis: Attenuating the rise in brachial artery pressure during weight lifting by placing a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm prevents postexercise impairment of brachial artery FMD in sedentary individuals.

Methods: Nine sedentary individuals who exercise once a week or less and six exercise-trained individuals who exercise three times a week or more performed leg press exercise to maximal exertion on two separate occasions.

Cardiovascular screening practices in collegiate student-athletes.

Objective: To evaluate screening practices and preparticipation evaluation (PPE) forms used to identify, or raise suspicion of, cardiovascular abnormalities in collegiate student-athletes.

Design: Phone and e-mail survey.

Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I universities.

Recognition and rehabilitation of the female athlete triad/tetrad: a multidisciplinary approach.

While the benefits of physical activity are numerous, the female athlete triad poses a significant health risk to young athletes. Emerging research links the triad to endothelial dysfunction--a sentinel event in cardiovascular disease--suggesting that this complex interplay of metabolic and endocrine factors may be described more accurately as a tetrad. Effective treatment of the triad/tetrad requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Female athlete triad screening in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes: is the preparticipation evaluation form effective?

Objective: To evaluate the screening practices and preparticipation evaluation (PPE) forms used to identify college athletes at risk for the female athlete triad (triad).

Design: Phone and/or e-mail survey.

Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I universities.

Challenges of the pregnant athlete and low back pain.

Low back pain during pregnancy is a common problem with a high prevalence among pregnant athletes. The etiology of pregnancy-related low back pain remains unclear, although more evidence is supporting a biomechanical/musculoskeletal origin. This article will review the causes of low back pain in athletes and pregnant women, differentiate low back from pelvic girdle pain, and discuss the treatment and prevention of pregnancy-related low back and pelvic girdle pain.

Folic acid supplementation improves vascular function in professional dancers with endothelial dysfunction.

Objective: To determine if folic acid supplementation improves vascular function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) in professional dancers with known endothelial dysfunction.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Academic institution in the Midwestern United States.

Advances in management of the female athlete triad and eating disorders.

Although there are numerous benefits to women from athletic participation, a complex combination of endocrine and metabolic factors exaggerates risk for a serious health concern: the female athlete triad. The purpose of this article is to provide updates on new issues related to the triad, specifically the relationship between athletic-associated amenorrhea and endothelial dysfunction-a potential fourth component to the triad that is a concern for future cardiovascular risk, public health issues, and athletic performance. Folic acid should be considered a potential safe and inexpensive therapeutic treatment to restore endothelial-dependent vasodilation.

The female athlete triad and endothelial dysfunction.

A tremendous increase in the number of female athletes of all ages and abilities has occurred in the past 35 years. In general, sports and athletic competition produce healthier and happier women. However, explosion in participation has revealed clear gender-specific injuries and medical conditions unique to the female athlete.

Association between the female athlete triad and endothelial dysfunction in dancers.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the 3 components of the female athlete triad [disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, low bone mineral density (BMD)] and their relationships with brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in professional dancers.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Academic institution in the Midwest.

A proximal strengthening program improves pain, function, and biomechanics in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Background: It is hypothesized that patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) have hip and core muscle weakness leading to dynamic malalignment of the lower extremity. Thus, hip strengthening is a common PFPS treatment approach.

Purpose: To determine changes in hip strength, core endurance, lower extremity biomechanics, and patient outcomes after proximally focused rehabilitation for PFPS patients.

Injury patterns in female Irish dancers.

Objective: To determine the type of Irish dance injuries requiring evaluation and treatment by a sports medicine physician.

Design: Cross-sectional retrospective chart review.

Setting: Academic sports medicine center in the Midwest.

The female runner: gender specifics.

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of female runners of all ages and abilities in the past 35 years. Women who participate in running and sports are generally healthier and have higher self-esteem. However, unique medical and orthopedic issues exist for the female runner.

Folic acid supplementation improves vascular function in amenorrheic runners.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if folic acid supplementation improves endothelial vascular function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation; FMD) in amenorrheic runners.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Academic medical center in the Midwest.

Prevalence of the female athlete triad in high school athletes and sedentary students.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the female athlete triad (low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density) in high school varsity athletes in a variety of sports compared with sedentary students/control subjects.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Academic medical center in the Midwest.

Possible relationship of folic Acid supplementation and improved flow-mediated dilation in premenopausal, eumenorrheic athletic women.

The purpose of this study was to determine if six weeks of folic acid supplementation would improve brachial artery endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation in eumenorrheic female runners with previously normal serum folate levels. This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized pilot study with convenience sampling. Sixteen eumenorrheic subjects who were not taking birth control pills and who ran at least 20 miles/week were randomly assigned to 10 mg/day of folic acid supplementation or placebo for at least 6 weeks.

Nutritional requirements of the child and teenage athlete.

There has been an explosion in sports participation, especially for women, in the last 35 years mainly because of Title IX. In 2005-2006, nearly 3 million girls and 4.2 million boys participated in high school athletics, and many more participated in club sports and recreational activities.

Athletic amenorrhea and endothelial dysfunction.

Objectives: To determine if menstrual status changed in amenorrheic college runners over a 2-year period and what effect this had on brachial artery flow-mediated dilation.

Participants: Eighteen athletes first studied in our laboratory 2 years prior were available for follow-up. Nine of the 10 original women with athletic amenorrhea (mean +/- SE, age 21.

The female athlete triad and cardiovascular dysfunction.

In the past 35 years, a significant increase has occurred in sports participation by women. An estimated 3 million girls and young women compete in American high school sports. Women who participate in sports and fitness programs are generally healthier and have higher self-esteem.

Factors that affect the young female athlete.

The past 35 years have seen a tremendous increase in the number of female athletes at all ages and abilities. Recent research has shown a myriad of benefits for girls and women who participate in sports. Physical activity positively influences almost every aspect of a young woman's health, from her physiology to her social interactions and mental health.

Prevalence of female athlete triad characteristics in a club triathlon team.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the female athlete triad in club triathletes.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Academic medical center in the midwestern United States.

Awareness and comfort in treating the Female Athlete Triad: are we failing our athletes?

Background: Recognition of the Female Athlete Triad (disordered eating, amenorrhea, osteoporosis) has increased significantly since it was defined in 1992 by the American College of Sports Medicine. However, knowledge and treatment of the Female Athlete Triad is still lacking among physicians and medical personnel.

Purpose: We surveyed physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and coaches to determine their knowledge and comfort in treating the Female Athlete Triad.

Aerobic fitness in women with chronic discogenic nonradicular low back pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if aerobic fitness varies between women with and without chronic discogenic non-radicular low back pain.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional descriptive study.

Results: : Analysis of variance revealed that maximal oxygen consumption was lower (P = 0.

Stress fractures and knee injuries in runners.

Running often can cause injuries to the knee as a result of kinetic chain dysfunctions. Addressing these dysfunctions in rehabilitation can prevent future injury. Stress fractures often occur in runners who engage in training errors.