Survey study, 2016
Does PMS increase the risk of stress fractures in teenage athletes?
Among teenage athletes, 8.9% had moderate-to-severe PMS. Those with strong physical premenstrual symptoms had 1.66 times higher risk of stress fractures, suggesting PMS symptoms may increase injury risk.
What they did
394 Japanese female high school athletes with regular periods (25-38 days) completed questionnaires about premenstrual symptoms and their history of stress fractures.
What they found
8.9% had moderate-to-severe PMS and 1.3% had PMDD. 16.8% reported stress fractures. Athletes with stress fractures scored higher on overeating, physical symptoms, and performance issues. Physical premenstrual symptoms had an odds ratio of 1.66 for stress fracture risk.
What it means for you
Premenstrual physical symptoms may increase injury risk in young female athletes, but this cross-sectional study cannot prove causation. Results are from one area of Japan.
8.9%
Had moderate-to-severe PMS
16.8%
Had stress fractures
1.66
Fracture risk with physical symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Stress fracture and premenstrual syndrome in Japanese adolescent athletes: a cross-sectional study
- Authors
- Takeda T, Imoto Y, Nagasawa H et al.
- Journal
- BMJ open
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 394
- What was tested
- None; observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013103
Topics
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