Women athletes are more likely to get overtrained or develop stress fractures because of hormone changes during their cycle and a higher chance of not eating enough to fuel their training.
Evidence from Studies
No evidence studies found yet.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Quantify the gender difference in OTS and bone injury risk across studies.
A meta-analysis of cohort and cross-sectional studies reporting sex-stratified data on OTS and stress fracture incidence, calculating pooled risk ratios for females vs males, adjusting for sport type and training load.
Track gender differences in OTS and injury development over time.
A 3-year prospective cohort of 600 elite athletes (300 female, 300 male), monitoring menstrual status, energy availability, training load, and incidence of OTS and bone injuries, with multivariate analysis to assess independent effect of sex.
Compare prevalence of OTS symptoms and bone health markers by sex at a single time point.
A cross-sectional study of 400 endurance athletes assessing OTS symptoms (via POMS), bone density (DXA), and hormonal status, comparing female and male athletes while controlling for training volume.
Highlight gender-specific risk factors and propose clinical implications.
A narrative review summarizing evidence on sex differences in overtraining and bone health, emphasizing hormonal and nutritional factors unique to female athletes.