FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD

Course overview

FEMALE ATHLETES OFTEN COMPLAIN OF LOW ENERGY AVAILABILITY, WHICH IS DEFINED AS ENERGY FROM ORAL NUTRITION LESS ENERGY USED FOR EXERCISE. AS SUCH, LOW ENERGY MAY RESULT (WHETHER INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY) FROM MORE ENERGY EXPENDITURE, LESS ORAL NOURISHMENT, OR BOTH. A CHRONIC ENERGY DEFICIT CAN OCCUR IN THE FEMALE ATHLETE WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL AND REPRODUCTIVE DYSFUNCTION. LOW ENERGY (WITH OR WITHOUT AN EATING DISORDER) IN COMBINATION WITH A MENSTRUAL DISORDER AND ALTERED MINERAL BONE DENSITY IS KNOWN AS THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.