The Exercising Female: Science and Its Application is the first book to provide students, researchers, and professionals with an evidence-based reference on the exceptional scientific issues associated with female participation in sport and exercise. Based on the latest research, and treating women as a unique population, the book seeks to critically evaluate current debates, present the science underpinning female sport and exercise performance, and inform applied practice for the exercising female.
Featuring contributions from leading scientists from around the world, and adopting a multidisciplinary approach--from exercise physiology, endocrinology, and biochemistry to psychology, biomechanics, and sociology--the book includes chapters on topics such as:
Exercise and the menstrual cycle, contraception, pregnancy, motherhood, and menopause.
Body image, exercise dependency, the psychology of sports performance, and homophobia in female sport.
The Female Athlete Triad, bone health, musculoskeletal injury, and breast biomechanics.
Nutritional requirements for the exercising female, immune function and exercise, and cardiovascular health.
Filling a considerable gap in book literature around the science of female sport and exercise, this is crucial reading for any student studying female sport and exercise science, researchers of female sport, and any coach, sport scientist, strength and conditioning coach, sport psychologist, physician, or physiotherapist working with female athletes.
Author(s): Jacky Forsyth; Claire-Marie Roberts
Series: Routledge Research in Sport and Exercise Science
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 288
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of figures
List of tables
List of contributors
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
1 Introduction to The Exercising Female: Science and Its Application
Trends in sport and exercise for females
Aims and themes of the book
Summary
References
2 The adolescent exercising female
Introduction
Identity formation
Early sport specialisation
Peer groups
Injury
Overtraining
Stress, emotions, and coping
Eating disorders
Dropout
Real-world example
Summary
References
3 The menstrual cycle and the exercising female: implications for health and performance
Introduction
Effects of exercise on the menstrual cycle
Effects of the menstrual cycle on exercise performance
Real-world examples
Summary
References
4 Hormonal-based contraception and the exercising female
Introduction
Hormonal contraceptives
The role of contraceptives
The effects of hormonal contraceptives on athletic performance
Practical recommendations based on research
Real-world example
Summary
References
5 Energy and the nutritional needs of the exercising female
Introduction
Energy requirements
Macronutrient intake
Protein
Fat
Fluid and electrolytes
Micronutrients
Real-world example
Summary
References
6 The Female Athlete Triad
Introduction
Overview of the Female Athlete Triad
Energy availability and disordered eating behaviours
Menstrual disturbances associated with the Triad
Bone health in the Female Athlete Triad
Practical recommendations based on research
Real-world examples
Summary
References
7 Bone health and the exercising female
Introduction
Osteoporosis
The measurement of bone
Bone structure and bone turnover
Exercise and bone health
Practical recommendations based on research
Real-world example
Summary
References
8 Body image and the exercising female
Introduction
A consideration of the current evidence base
Practical recommendations based on research
Real-world examples
Summary
References
9 Exercise addiction in the exercising female: an interdisciplinary examination
Introduction
Operationalising exercise addiction
Primary versus secondary exercise addiction
Risk factors/correlates of exercise addiction
Treatment of exercise addiction
Real-world example
Summary
References
10 Immune function and the exercising female
Introduction
Exercise and infection risk in athletes
Exercise and the immune system
Acute and chronic effects
Mechanisms of exercise-induced immunodepression
Psychological stress
Females and the immune response (sex differences)
Females and the immune response to exercise (sex differences)
Practical recommendations
Real-world example
Summary
References
11 Musculoskeletal injury and the exercising female
Introduction
History
Epidemiology
Anatomy/physiology/biomechanics
Mechanism/aetiology
Treatment/prevention
Practical recommendation based on research
Real-world example
Summary
References
12 Breast health and the exercising female
Introduction
The problem
Breast biomechanics
Breast support
Effects of the breast on exercising females
Practical recommendations based on research
Real-world example
Summary
References
13 The psychology of female sport performance
Introduction
Psychological approaches to sport competition
Practical recommendations
Real-world example
Summary
References
14 The changing nature of lesbian athletes coming out in competitive organised team sports
Introduction
Climates within a sporting environment
Changing nature of coming out
Practical recommendations
Real-world examples
Summary
References
15 Pregnancy and the exercising female
Introduction
A consideration of the current evidence base
Practical recommendations
Intensity of exercise
Real-world example
Summary
References
16 Postnatal depression and the exercising female
Introduction
Postnatal depression
The aetiology of PND
Treatment
Mechanisms of action
Real-world example
Helping women with PND to exercise
Summary
References
17 Motherhood in the exercising female
Introduction
Pregnancy and motherhood in the exercising female
Motherhood in elite athletes
Planned pregnancy and return to sport
Breastfeeding
Sleep
Identity
Advantages of being an athlete mother
Consequences of being an athlete mother
Planned pregnancies and athletic career termination
Motherhood in the recreational exercising female
Practical recommendations
Real-world example
Summary
References
18 Athletic career termination in females
Introduction
Gender equality
Gender differences
Practical recommendations
Real-world example
Summary
References
19 Cardiovascular health and the exercising female
Introduction
Oestrogen over the lifespan
Oestrogen and metabolic risk
Oestrogen and arterial wall structure
Oestrogen and vascular function
Oestrogen promotes nitric oxide production
Oestrogen counteracts reactive oxygen species production
Oestrogen and cardiac function
Exercise exerts a protective effect upon the cardiovascular system and can reverse declines in cardiovascular health
Practical recommendations based on research
Real-world example
Summary
References
20 Menopause and the exercising female
Introduction
Can exercise training in postmenopausal women enhance cardiorespiratory fitness?
Exercise training in postmenopausal women can improve traditional cardiovascular risk factors
Exercise training in the early menopausal period can have enhancements in cardiovascular function that have implications for CVD risk
The menopause may be an optimal time for exercise-induced improvements
The impact of the menopausal transition
The impact of exercise training on menopausal symptoms
Hot flushes
Exercise training can improve menopausal hot flushes
Real-world example
Summary
References
Index
