The relationship between the female athlete triad and injury rates in collegiate female athletes

Background: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the triad risk assessment score and the sports injury rate in 116 female college athletes (average age, 19.8 +/- 1.3 years) in seven sports at the national level of competition; 67 were teenagers, and 49 were in their 20s. Methods: Those with menstrual deficiency for >3 months or <6 menses in 12 months were classified as amenorrheic athletes. Low energy availability was defined as adolescent athletes having a body weight <85% of ideal body weight, and for adult athletes in their 20s, a body mass index <= 17.5 kg/m(2). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured on the heel of the right leg using an ultrasonic bone densitometer. Low BMD was defined as a BMD Z-score <-1.0. The total score for each athlete was calculated. The cumulative risk assessment was defined as follows: low risk (a total score of 0-1), moderate risk (2-5), and high risk (6). The injury survey recorded injuries referring to the injury survey items used by the International Olympic Committee. Results: In swimming, significantly more athletes were in the low-risk category than in the moderate and high-risk categories (p = 0.004). In long-distance athletics, significantly more athletes were in the moderate-risk category than in the low and high-risk categories (p = 0.004). In the moderate and high-risk categories, significantly more athletes were in the injury group, whereas significantly more athletes in the low-risk category were in the non-injury group (p = 0.01). Significantly more athletes at moderate and high-risk categories had bone stress fractures and bursitis than athletes at low risk (p = 0.023). Discussion: These results suggest that athletes with relative energy deficiency may have an increased injury risk.