Publications by authors named "Kathryn E Ackerman"

Unlabelled: Up to 40% of elite athletes experience bone stress injuries (BSIs), with 20-30% facing reinjury. Early identification of runners at high risk of subsequent BSI could improve prevention strategies. However, the complex etiology and multifactorial risk factors of BSIs makes identifying predictive risk factors challenging.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to investigate the relationship between self-reported indicators of low energy availability (LEA-I) and race performance as well as medical incidents during the Boston Marathon.
  • A survey of 1,030 runners revealed a higher prevalence of LEA-I in females (42.5%) compared to males (17.6%), with athletes experiencing LEA-I performing worse in terms of race times and placement.
  • The findings indicated that runners with LEA-I had significantly increased risks of medical encounters during the race, underscoring the negative impacts of low energy availability on marathon performance and health.
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Purpose: To examine the relationship between menstrual cycle (MC) phase-dependent fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone and virtual cycling race performance, with a secondary aim of correlating perceived MC-related symptoms with performance.Methods: In a novel observational study design, thirty-seven female cyclists/triathletes not using any hormonal contraception completed one virtual cycling race [19.5 km time trial (TT)] per week across a one-month period (totaling four races).

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  • The study aimed to explore the link between low energy availability (EA) and health/performance issues in male athletes aged 15-30, focusing on conditions associated with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs).
  • Male athletes were surveyed in a sports medicine clinic and classified into low EA and adequate EA groups based on their responses, with statistical analyses conducted to assess the impact of low EA.
  • Findings revealed that low EA correlates with negative health outcomes like psychological issues and cardiovascular dysfunction, and worsens athletic performance, highlighting the need for further research on REDs in young male athletes.
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Introduction: Few studies have assessed athletic identity levels in young patients. This study examined athletic identity in adolescents and explored associations between athletic identity, patterns of sport participation, and coping skills.

Methods: Patients aged 12 to 18 years who received sports medicine care completed a one-time, voluntary, anonymous survey.

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Purpose: To investigate the effects of acute diet and exercise manipulation on resting metabolic rate (RMR) measurement variability and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition estimates.

Methods: 10 male and 10 female endurance athletes (12 cyclists, 5 triathletes, 4 runners) of Tier 2 (n = 18) to Tier 3 (n = 2) calibre underwent five conditions using a Latin square counterbalance design. For 24 hours, athletes consumed a diet providing excessive energy availability (75 kcal‧kg fat free mass (FFM) -1 ) without exercise (GEA rest ), high energy availability (45 kcal‧kg FFM -1 ) without (HEA rest ) or with exercise (HEA ex ), or low-energy availability (15 kcal‧kg FFM -1 ) without (LEA rest ) or with exercise (LEA ex ).

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Objective: This cross-sectional retrospective and prospective study implemented the 2023 International Olympic Committee Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) Clinical Assessment Tool version 2 (CAT2) to determine the current severity of REDs (primary outcome) and future risk of bone stress injuries (BSI, exploratory outcome) in elite athletes.

Methods: Female (n=143; 23.3±4.

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Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the temporal effects of ~1800 m altitude exposure and energy availability (EA) manipulation on resting metabolic rate (RMR).

Methods: Twenty elite female race walkers underwent a 3-wk training camp at an altitude of ~1800 m. During the first 2 wk, athletes consumed a high EA (HEA) diet of 45 kcal·kg fat-free mass (FFM) -1 ·d -1 .

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Low energy availability, particularly when problematic (i.e., prolonged and/or severe), has numerous negative consequences for health and sports performance as characterized in relative energy deficiency in sport.

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Objectives: To co-construct a sports medicine and exercise science research and translational agenda with Team USA elite female athletes serving as the experts on their health, performance and well-being.

Methods: 40 Team USA female athletes across sports disciplines participated in an online, anonymous, modified Delphi survey by ranking topics on a Likert scale (1='strongly disagree' and 5='strongly agree') and providing qualitative justification regarding whether they believed having more information and research on each topic would support their athletic performance, health and well-being. After each Delphi round, quantitative rankings of topics and qualitative justifications were analysed, informing revisions to the list of topics for review in the subsequent round.

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We examined performance across one menstrual cycle (MC) and 3 weeks of hormonal contraceptives (HC) use to identify whether known fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone/progestin are associated with functional performance changes. National Rugby League Indigenous Women's Academy athletes [n = 11 naturally menstruating (NM), n = 13 using HC] completed performance tests [countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), isometric mid-thigh pull, 20 m sprint, power pass and Stroop test] during three phases of a MC or three weeks of HC usage, confirmed through ovulation tests alongside serum estrogen and progesterone concentrations. MC phase or HC use did not influence jump height, peak force, sprint time, distance thrown or Stroop effect.

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Article Synopsis
  • Bone stress injury (BSI) is a prevalent overuse injury among active women, classified into high-risk (pelvis, sacrum, femoral neck) and low-risk (tibia, fibula, metatarsals) categories with various risk factors.
  • This study aimed to assess differences in bone mineral density (BMD) and load rates between premenopausal women with a history of high-risk BSI, low-risk BSI, and no BSI history, hypothesizing that high-risk patients would have poorer bone health.
  • Results indicated that women with high-risk BSI had significantly lower spine BMD compared to those with low-risk BSI, highlighting the impact of BSI on bone health in pre
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The cyclical changes in sex hormones across the menstrual cycle (MC) are associated with various biological changes that may alter resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body composition estimates. Hormonal contraceptive (HC) use must also be considered given their impact on endogenous sex hormone concentrations and synchronous exogenous profiles. The purpose of this study was to determine if RMR and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition estimates change across the MC and differ compared with HC users.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation of a novel research protocol for conducting research with highly trained female athletes, including characterizing menstrual cycle (MC) function, hormonal profiles and symptoms of the participating athletes.

Methods: Twenty-four Australian First Nation female Rugby League athletes completed this study, which involved 11 wk of cycle tracking, followed by attendance at a 5-wk training camp. Throughout the study, athletes completed a daily survey, reporting their MC function and any associated symptoms.

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The idiom ' has become the slogan for sport and exercise physiology-based research in female athletes. However, in most instances, it is challenging to address this gap of high-quality research in elite female athletes at a single study site due to challenges in recruiting enough participants with numerous menstrual cycle and contraceptive pill permutations. Accordingly, we have assembled an international multisite team to undertake an innovative project for female athletes, which investigates the effects of changes in endogenous and exogenous oestrogen and progesterone/progestins across the menstrual cycle and in response to second-generation combined monophasic contraceptive pill use, on aspects of exercise physiology and athletic performance.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focuses on the female athlete triad (Triad) and relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs), which are issues related to the health and performance of female athletes caused by low energy availability.
  • - Researchers surveyed 275 female cross-country athletes to assess their knowledge and confidence regarding Triad and REDs, finding significant differences in educational impact scores based on factors like academic focus and previous education on these topics.
  • - The results indicate a correlation between higher peak career mileage and Triad diagnoses, emphasizing the need for better education and preventative measures for female athletes to address Triad and REDs effectively.
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Purpose: Over a 10-year time frame, this study aimed to evaluate diagnosis, treatment, and referral trends for adolescent runners seeking care for running-related injuries (RRIs) at a clinic that specializes in running medicine.

Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review of 392 adolescent runners (2,326 encounters) who sought care for RRIs between the years 2011 and 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize clinical assessments, referrals, assistive devices, and medications prescribed or administered overall and by injury type.

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Sufficient high-quality studies in sport science using women as participants are lacking, meaning that our knowledge and understanding of female athletes in relation to their ovarian hormone profiles is limited. Consortia can be used to pool talent, expertise and data, thus accelerating our learning on a given topic and reducing research waste through collaboration. To this end, we have assembled an international multisite team, described here, to investigate the effects of the menstrual cycle and contraceptive pill phase on aspects of exercise physiology and sports performance in female athletes.

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Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) was first introduced in 2014 by the International Olympic Committee's expert writing panel, identifying a syndrome of deleterious health and performance outcomes experienced by female and male athletes exposed to low energy availability (LEA; inadequate energy intake in relation to exercise energy expenditure). Since the 2018 REDs consensus, there have been >170 original research publications advancing the field of REDs science, including emerging data demonstrating the growing role of low carbohydrate availability, further evidence of the interplay between mental health and REDs and more data elucidating the impact of LEA in males. Our knowledge of REDs signs and symptoms has resulted in updated Health and Performance Conceptual Models and the development of a novel Physiological Model.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study of the connections between nutrition, exercise, and their impact on health and athletic performance has gained momentum, especially following the introduction of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) in 2014.
  • This shift has encouraged research into more diverse populations beyond the traditional focus on white, adolescent or young adult female athletes, yet many existing studies are limited by inconsistent methodologies.
  • The review aims to outline best practices for researching REDs, providing standardized definitions, study designs, and assessment methods to enhance future investigations and improve prevention, diagnosis, and care strategies.
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Article Synopsis
  • * A 'systems biology' framework is proposed to analyze LEA's effects on body systems, aiming to create a comprehensive map of these interactions and identify characteristics of LEA exposure and moderating factors that influence an athlete's health and performance.
  • * The REDs Physiological Model serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying causes of LEA-related issues and can aid in crafting personalized treatment plans, while also suggesting preventative strategies to minimize health and performance risks associated with LEA.
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