As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, female athletes can face additional hurdles during exercise and athletics in the form of a condition called the female athlete triad. That condition refers to a combination of three issues that can develop independently or concurrently and cause issues for the athlete. The three components that make up the female athlete triad are:
- Disordered eating
- Amenorrhea
- Osteoporosis or a low bone mass
These three conditions can play into each other and make it hard to overcome the challenges they present with, but as we noted above, they can also develop independent of one another, and that’s what we want to focus on today. Many women develop one arm of the female athlete triad, and that’s amenorrhea, which is categorized by an absence in expected menstrual cycles. Amenorrhea can be primary (meaning the menstrual cycle hasn’t started by 16), or it can be secondary (meaning menstrual cycles stop appearing after they have begun). The condition can be more common in athletes because exercise can be a primary trigger for the condition. In today’s blog, we explore how you can work with a physical therapist to overcome exercise-induced amenorrhea.
How A PT Can Help Address Amenorrhea
Exercise-induced amenorrhea (EIA) occurs when women who engage in intense physical activity/exercise/athletics miss three or more consecutive menstrual cycles. While you may want to consult with your primary care physician or women’s care provider, EIA is typically caused by a significant hormonal imbalance due to excessive exercise.
Moderate amounts of exercise is great for the body, but when young female athletes push themselves too hard with exercise or athletics, it can cause issues that lead to irregular or missed menstrual cycles. Too much exercise can lead to reduced levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the body, which is responsible for triggering the release of other important hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Excess exercise can also lead to an increase in stress hormones in the body, which can serve to make periods more erratic or non-existent.
Aside from having irregular or missed menstrual cycles, women dealing with EIA oftentimes note that they regularly feel fatigued, and they may be more prone to mood swings.
Connecting with a physical therapist can be a crucial aspect of a comprehensive treatment plan. While your doctor may recommend medications or certain hormone treatments, much of what we do at our clinic can aid in AIC treatment, including:
- Healthy Stress Management – We oftentimes help clients find healthy outlets for their lives. While some find that relief through exercise, clients with AIC may be more responsive to deep breathing exercises, meditation or other relaxation techniques.
- Tweaking Exercise Programs – You don’t always have to push your body to the brink to become stronger or a better athlete. We can help develop exercise routines that you can pursue that are not as hard on your body but still provide many benefits that will aid in your performance. Stretching-based exercises, resistance band training or water-based movement programs can all improve joint function, stability and flexibility without putting loads of stress on your body.
- Diet/Sleep Education – Our physical therapists can also help to educate and improve other lifestyle factors that can contribute to stress and EIA onset, including your diet and your sleep patterns. We know how hard it can be for the student-athlete to prioritize sleep, but we can explain how quality sleep is actually much better for their body than pushing it too hard. Let us evaluate and tweak your diet and sleep habits.
Amenorrhea is incredibly common, but far too often female athletes do not bring the issue up to their doctor or physical therapist, and nothing is going to change unless you seek out treatment. Let us help bring balance to your hormones so that you can be the best athlete you can be. For more information, or for help with a different issue, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
- Overcoming The Toughest Parts Of Physical Therapy - February 12, 2025
- Managing Exercise-Induced Amenorrhea in Female Athletes - February 10, 2025
- Sprains Vs. Tears And How To Treat Both With Physical Therapy - February 4, 2025
