Fat intake and injury in female runners

NewsBot · Jan 8, 2008

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Fat intake and injury in female runners
Kristen E Gerlach , Harold W Burton , Joan M Dorn , John J Leddy and Peter J Horvath
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2008, 5:1doi:10.1186/1550-2783-5-1

Background
Our purpose was to determine the relationship between energy intake, energy availability, dietary fat and lower extremity injury in adult female runners. We hypothesized that runners who develop overuse running-related injuries have lower energy intakes, lower energy availability and lower fat intake compared to non-injured runners.

Methods
Eighty-six female subjects, running a minimum of 20 miles/week, completed a food frequency questionnaire and informed us about injury incidence over the next year.

Results
Injured runners had significantly lower intakes of total fat (63 + 20 vs. 80 + 50 g/d) and percentage of kilocalories from fat (27 + 5 vs. 30 + 8 %) compared with non-injured runners. A logistic regression analysis found that fat intake was the best dietary predictor, correctly identifying 64% of future injuries. Energy intake and energy availability were not associated with injury in this study.

Conclusions
Fat intake is likely associated with injury risk in female runners. By documenting these associations, better strategies can be developed to reduce running injuries in women.
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NewsBot · Feb 27, 2009

Overuse injuries in female infantry recruits during low-intensity basic training.
Finestone A, Milgrom C, Evans R, Yanovich R, Constantini N, Moran DS.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Nov;40(11 Suppl):S630-5.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the epidemiology of overuse injuries and to identify common risk factors for stress fractures among female and male recruits in a new light infantry basic training designed to minimize the incidence of overuse injuries.

METHODS: Study subjects were male and female recruits in the 16-wk light infantry basic training. A control group of noncombat female medics whose military service did not include demanding physical activities was recruited to assess the female recruits' preinduction physical preparedness. Pretraining survey of all participants' medical and sports participation histories was conducted. Anthropometric measurements were performed. Subjects were followed every 3 wk for overuse injuries. Stress fractures were diagnosed by radiography or scintigraphy.

RESULTS: Ninety-nine female recruits, 36 male recruits, and 55 controls participated. Although 31% of the controls reported regular preinduction sports participation, less than 25% of both male and female recruits did. Stress fractures incidence was 0% among males and controls but 12% among female recruits (P = 0.03). The mean body mass index of female recruits with stress fractures was 19.2 +/- 2.6 versus 22.5 +/- 3.3 kg x m of female recruits without stress fractures (P = 0.02, odds ratio = 1.397, 95% confidence interval = 1.065-1.833). No statistically significant difference was found between female and male military trainees in the incidence of other overuse injuries, but there was a statistical trend (P = 0.07) for more back pain among females.

CONCLUSIONS: Lower body mass index was the only variable identified as a risk factor for stress fractures among female recruits in the present study. It does not explain the markedly different response of female and male recruits' bones to the low demand training. There may be an intrinsic difference between male and female bone resistance to fatigue.
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Steve The Footman · Feb 27, 2009

I wonder if the first study looked at the confounding variable of low BMI with people who also have an eating disorder that reduces fat intake.

Fat intake and injury in female runners

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Steve The Footman Active Member

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Fat intake and injury in female runners

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

NewsBot The Admin that posts the news.

Steve The Footman Active Member

Religious health fatalism in diabetic foot ulcers

Fatty Gastrocnemius Muscle

Effects of fatigue on the plantar fascia

Fat Is Consistently Present within the Plantar Muscular Space of the Human Foot

Fatigue does not affect foot orthotic function

Fat Is Consistently Present within the Plantar Muscular Space

Mass-Like Fat at the Medial Midfoot

Share This Page

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