| The needs of male and female athletes are
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| | speed up the process.
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| very different, and these differences are
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| | Even worse, weakened bones are
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| apparent in all phases of athletic
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| | susceptible to fractures and injuries.
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| medical care -- from diagnosis, to
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| | Coupled with inadequate nutrition from
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| treatment, to massage or physical therapy
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| | calorie-restrictive diets, female
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| efforts.
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| | athletes might wind up injured and unable
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| An ailment exclusive to female athletes
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| | to train or compete. The more headstrong
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| is the female athlete triad, a
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| | among these athletes continue to train
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| triumvirate of disorders that have a
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| | despite multiple injuries and amenorrhea,
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| domino effect on one's overall health.
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| | setting themselves up for long bouts of
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| The three components of this affliction
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| | poor health. Medical intervention is
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| are disordered eating, amenorrhea (or
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| | critical for these types of athletes.
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| loss of menstrual periods for three
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| | Massage therapy can work in several ways
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| consecutive months), and osteoporosis (or
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| | to help individuals suffering from the
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| a thinning of bone tissue and loss of
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| | female athlete triad get well. Some types
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| bone density). Affected athletes are best
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| | of massage therapy are instrumental in
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| helped when each component of the triad
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| | helping athletes recover from injuries,
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| is addressed and treated separately - and
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| | including injuries sustained as a result
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| massage and sports rehabilitation therapy
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| | of low body weight and over-exercising.
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| are helpful treatment options for this
| |
| | Massage and sports rehabilitation therapy
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| condition.
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| | performed upon the recommendation of a
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| Athletes of both genders must focus on
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| | sports physician can be helpful to
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| developing many of the same attributes in
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| | recovery from physical symptoms of the
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| their bodies: strength, balance,
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| | female athlete triad.
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| endurance, precision. However, women are
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| | Massage therapy can also help female
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| more likely than men to participate in
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| | athletes relax. Lowering levels of
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| sports and athletic endeavors that focus
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| | physical and mental stress can assist
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| on body weight, size, and appearance.
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| | female athlete triad patients in feeling
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| Gymnastics, figure-skating, ballet, and
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| | better overall. Appetite recovery and
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| cheer-leading/color guard are some
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| | sleep restoration can help these athletes
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| examples of these image-focused sports.
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| | to begin menstruating regularly again,
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| In ballet, for example, the pre-pubescent
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| | and will assist in faster recovery from
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| figure is regarded as ideal, and bodily
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| | injuries. Some athletes will feel less of
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| markers of adult female estrogen levels,
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| | a compulsion to exercise to the point of
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| such as visible breasts and hips, are
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| | exhaustion once their cortisol (stress
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| taboo at many dance schools.
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| | hormone) levels are lowered.
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| Many adolescent girls and women become
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| | Finally, massage therapy can help female
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| image-obsessed, focusing on cutting their
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| | athletes feel better about themselves.
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| caloric intakes as much as possible,
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| | They might become more comfortable with
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| while continuing to train at the same
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| | their bodies, and learn to appreciate
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| vigorous, competitive levels. Once a
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| | their strengths and athletic skills.
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| person begins a calorie-restricted diet,
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| | Massage also releases endorphins, or
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| it can be difficult to stop - many
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| | feel-good hormones, that can replace the
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| dieters report starvation-induced
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| | euphoria often caused by starving.
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| euphoria and delight at their shrinking
| |
| | Whole-body relaxation can also contribute
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| bodies. The starvation method of weight
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| | to an improved sense of self - when the
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| loss is detrimental to training athletes,
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| | athlete feels her life is under control,
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| who typically have lower-than-normal body
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| | she might no longer feel a drive to focus
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| fat levels to begin with. A girl or woman
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| | on controlling her weight and appearance.
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| needs at least 18 percent body fat to
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| | As the athlete recovers, she often
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| menstruate, and once body fat drops below
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| | institutes a better diet, at the
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| this level, menstruation can cease. In
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| | recommendation of a trained nutritionist.
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| girls who have not yet begun their
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| | This improved diet provides enough
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| periods, the onset of menstrual bleeding
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| | nourishment for her athletic endeavors.
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| (menarche) can be delayed for years.
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| | Improved nutrition also helps her to
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| The cessation of menstruation is
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| | recover faster from injuries sustained
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| problematic because it upsets the female
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| | from amenorrhea and over-training. As her
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| body's natural estrogen levels. As
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| | period returns, so, too, will her bone
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| estrogen levels drop, bone density loss
| |
| | density, and finally, her strength and
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| and bone weakening can occur. Estrogen in
| |
| | stamina.
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| women has a protective effect on the
| |
| | Recovering from the female athlete triad
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| skeletal system, enabling bone
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| | can be difficult. However, with the aid
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| development during adolescence, and
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| | of a professional team, including a
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| halting bone loss throughout early- and
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| | sports physician, nutritionist, and
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| mid-adulthood. Adolescent amenorrhea can
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| | massage or sports rehabilitation
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| prevent a female athlete from building
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| | therapist, affected athletes do not have
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| peak bone mass; adult amenorrhea can
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| | to suffer alone.
|
