Mental Health As A Predictor Of Bone Stress Fractures In Female Collegiate Athletes

Download or read book Mental Health as a Predictor of Bone Stress Fractures in Female Collegiate Athletes written by and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Stress fractures are a common injury within collegiate athletics. Most athletes assigned female at birth will experience at least one stress fracture in their collegiate career. Eating disorders, amenorrhea, low energy availability, and low bone mass density all contribute to higher risks of stress fractures. However, one factor has been lacking within our stress fracture prevention practices in athletic departments: mental health. Without screenings for anxiety, depression, or eating disorders, female athletes are left defenseless in a society where athletic bodies are judged and compared to each other. Underfueling in order for a body to look like another body leads to deficiencies, low bone mass density, osteoporosis, and many more lasting health concerns. Mental health, therefore, must be prioritized and screened for just as often as any physical injury. In doing so, many stress fractures and mental illnesses in female collegiate athletes can be treated effectively.