[Effect of specific training on menstruation and bone strength].
Secondary amenorrhoea is found with increased incidence in female athletes performing hard endurance training, especially when combined with demands for a low body weight. The etiology is multifactorial, but the energy balance (energy intake) in relation to the amount and intensity of training probably plays a crucial role. Long-lasting amenorrhoea may reduce the bone mineral content, perhaps partly irreversibly, especially in the lumbar vertebrae in long-distance runners. In gymnasts and light-weight rowers with a similarly high incidence of amenorrhoea, a much less pronounced effect on the lumbar bone mineral content has been reported in a few, small studies, pointing to a possible positive influence of specific training. The finding of stress fractures in an amenorrhoeic athlete should lead to further evaluation of the bone mineral status.
Klinisk fysiologisk/nuklearmedicinsk afdeling, Amtssygehuset i Herlev.
H M
HM
Larsen
I L
IL
Hansen
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012307:Risk Factors