Health Concerns of Artistic Women Gymnasts

O’Connor, Patrick J.; Lewis, Richard D.; Boyd, A. K.

doi:10.2165/00007256-199621050-00001

Cited by 19 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Physical deterioration (weight gain, reduced strength, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness) is an inherent part of athletic retirement, and has recently begun to command empirical research attention (Stephan, Torregrosa & Sanchez, in press). Elite gymnasts present a below average physical profile in terms of weight and height (O'Connor, Lewis, & Boyd, 1996) and intuitively, these profiles cannot and indeed should not be maintained in retirement. Furthermore, given the relatively young age of retirement from women's gymnastics, and the tendency for puberty to be delayed in this cohort, retirement often coincides with the onset of puberty, with an associated average weight increase of 40 to 50 pounds (Russell-Mayhew, 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Retirement Experiences of Elite Female Gymnasts: Self Identity and the Physical Self

Warriner¹,

Lavallee²

2008

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

122

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This study explored experiences of retirement from elite sport among a sample of retired female gymnasts. Given the young age at which female gymnasts begin and end their sport career, particular attention was afforded to the role of identity and the physical self in the process of adaptation. Retrospective, semi-structured interviews were conducted and interview transcripts analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Analysis indicated that retirement from gymnastics engendered adjustment difficulties for six of the seven participants. Identity loss was particularly salient, and for two gymnasts, physical changes associated with retirement were a further source of distress. The challenge of athletic retirement was intensified because the gymnasts had heavily invested in sport during adolescence, a period demarcated for the pursuit of an identity. Furthermore, their retirement coincided with a time when adolescents typically undergo profound changes physiologically. Practical suggestions to facilitate athletes' disengagement from sport are discussed.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Retirement Experiences of Elite Female Gymnasts: Self Identity and the Physical Self

Warriner¹,

Lavallee²

2008

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

122

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“…Generally, energy imbalance created by a high level of physical activity and diet restriction is associated with lower bone density [49] . However, even if calcium intakes are reduced in aesthetic athletes such as gymnasts, figures skaters, ballet dancers or rhythmic gymnasts, these young female and male athletes have a significantly higher bone mineral density than other athletic groups or non-athletic control groups [48] . Both genetics and also the strain on bone (repeated jumps and dismounts) contribute to higher bone mineral density.…”

Section: Body Composition In Aesthetic Sportsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Consequences of Sport-Imposed Weight Restriction in Childhood

Boisseau

2006

Ann Nestlé [Engl]

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Today, young competitors undertake training programs including a high level of physical activity from an early age. This intensive training (volume and intensity) increases energy expenditure which has to be compensated by a greater nutritional intake. Ballet dancers, figure skaters, gymnasts or rhythmic gymnasts start training at the age of 5–6 years and most of them practice more than 20–30 h/week. In these activities, as well as for weight-class sports (wrestlers, jockeys, judo or boxing athletes), young elite athletes make conscious decisions to reduce food intakes to maintain the slender, pre-pubertal physique or to ‘make weight’. Adequate energy and micronutrient intakes are essential for growing children, and caloric and fluid restrictions during physical training in childhood or during adolescence could disturb metabolic and hormonal regulations affecting growth, maturation, body composition, menstrual cycle and reproductive capacity, and may increase the risk of injuries such as stress fractures. Furthermore, these strategies may develop eating disorders (anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa), especially during female adolescence, affecting body image, self-image and developing social and emotional maladjustments.

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“…Toutefois, même si les apports calciques sont réduits chez les pratiquants de sports à critères esthétiques tels que la gymnastique classique ou rythmique, le patinage artistique et le ballet, ces jeunes sportifs des deux sexes présentent une densité minérale osseuse significativement plus élevée que d'autres groupes de sportifs ou de té-moins non sportifs [48] . Des paramètres génétiques, et éga-lement les contraintes imposées aux os (sauts et réceptions au sol répétés), contribuent à une densité minérale osseuse plus élevée.…”

Section: Composition Corporelle Dans Les Sports à Critères Esthétiquesunclassified

“…Des études rétro-spectives et prospectives ont montré que l'incidence des lé-sions était élevée chez les gymnastes féminines et positivement associée au degré de performance. Des lésions aiguës (par exemple fractures de contrainte et entorses ligamentaires) affectant le pied et les orteils sont fréquentes, il en est de même des traumatismes de la cheville [48] . Certaines de ces lésions aiguës pourraient être dues à des restrictions alimentaires, car il est bien connu qu'une oestrogénémie basse et des apports protéiques et calciques insuffisants, associés à une ménarche tardive, peuvent aboutir à une augmentation de l'incidence des fractures de contrainte [56] .…”

Section: Lésionsunclassified

Conséquences des restrictions pondérales imposées par le sport chez l’enfant et l’adolescent

Boisseau

2006

Ann Nestlé [Fr]

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De nos jours, de jeunes sportifs de compétition entreprennent des programmes d’entraînement comportant un haut degré d’activité physique dès un âge précoce. Cet entraînement intensif (volume et intensité) augmente les dépenses énergétiques, qui doivent être compensées par une augmentation des apports nutritionnels. Les danseurs de corps de ballet, les patineurs artistiques, les gymnastes ou les compétiteurs de gymnastique rythmique commencent leur entraînement dès l’âge de 5–6 ans et, pour la plupart d’entre eux, consacrent plus de 20 à 30 heures par semaine à leur discipline. Dans ces activités, ainsi que dans celles où le poids joue un rôle (lutteurs, jockeys, judokas ou boxeurs), les jeunes sportifs de haut niveau décident délibérément de réduire leur consommation alimentaire afin de maintenir leur minceur physique prépubertaire ou de «faire le poids». Des apports adéquats en calories et en micronutriments sont essentiels chez l’enfant en croissance, et des restrictions caloriques et liquidiennes au cours de l’entraînement physique pendant l’enfance ou l’adolescence pourraient perturber les régulations métaboliques et hormonales intervenant dans la croissance, la maturité, la composition corporelle, les cycles menstruels et l’aptitude à la reproduction, et pourraient augmenter le risque de lésions telles que des fractures de contrainte. De plus, ces stratégies peuvent entraîner l’apparition de troubles alimentaires (anorexie mentale et/ou boulimie nerveuse), particulièrement chez les adolescentes, affectant l’image corporelle et l’estime de soi et favorisant des inadaptations sociales et affectives.

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Health Concerns of Artistic Women Gymnasts

Cited by 19 publications

References 31 publications

The Retirement Experiences of Elite Female Gymnasts: Self Identity and the Physical Self

The Retirement Experiences of Elite Female Gymnasts: Self Identity and the Physical Self

Consequences of Sport-Imposed Weight Restriction in Childhood

Conséquences des restrictions pondérales imposées par le sport chez l’enfant et l’adolescent

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