Specific Populations of Female Athletes: Triad and Relative Energy
Deficiency in Sport (Recorded Webinar)
Presented by Barb Hoogenboom and Teresa L. Schuemann
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This course is one of several recordings from the Female Athlete Health Symposium, a previously hosted live, multi-lecture webinar event. In this session, the primary instructor is introduced by another instructor who also facilitates the Q&A portion. Polling and question submission features are not available for this recording. Format and structure may differ from those of standard Medbridge courses.
Female athletes, particularly those in tactical/occupational roles, flexibility sports (such as gymnastics and dance), and adaptive sports face unique physiological and psychological challenges that increase their risk for the female athlete triad and relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs). Despite growing awareness, a significant practice gap remains in the clinical understanding and management of REDs within these specialty populations. This presentation addresses this gap by equipping practitioners with clinically relevant knowledge on the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of REDs. It introduces the IOC REDs CAT2 assessment tool and outlines evidence-based screening, prevention, and treatment strategies tailored to diverse female athlete groups, including flexibility athletes, tactical/occupational athletes, and female athletes participating in adaptive sports. The session is designed for sports medicine professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and clinicians working in military, occupational, and performance sport settings. By the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to identify REDs indicators, apply assessment tools, and implement multidisciplinary care plans to optimize health and performance outcomes in these specialty populations of female athletes.
Learning Objectives
- Determine key risk factors and prevalence trends of REDs in flexibility, tactical/occupational, and adaptive sport female athlete population
- Apply the IOC REDs CAT2 clinical assessment tool to screen, stratify, and guide sport participation decisions
- Distinguish the unique challenges in diagnosing REDs in diverse athlete populations, including those with disabilities or hormonal interventions
- Implement evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for REDs using a multidisciplinary approach
Meet your instructors
Barb Hoogenboom
Dr. Hoogenboom is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Physical Therapy Program at Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Barb holds a Bachelor Degree from Calvin College (1983), a Master’s Degree from Grand Valley State University (1997), and an EdD from Eastern Michigan University (2006). She has been in…
Teresa L. Schuemann
Dr. Teresa Schuemann has extensive experience in sports physical therapy after attaining her physical therapy degree from the University of Missouri: Columbia in 1987. She continues to serve as a member of the sports medicine team at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Center and previously with the International…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. REDs and the Female Athlete Triad in Flexibility Athletes
Flexibility athletes, such as gymnasts and dance performing artists, are uniquely vulnerable to relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) due to sport-specific pressures around leanness, aesthetics, and high training volumes. This portion of the presentation explores the physiological and psychological impacts of REDs in these athletes, emphasizing early recognition, screening, and multidisciplinary management strategies tailored to their performance demands and health risks.
2. REDs and the Female Athlete Triad in Adaptive Sports
Female athletes participating in adaptive sports face distinct physiological and medical challenges that may increase their vulnerability to REDs. This chapter explores how disability-specific factors, hormonal interventions, and training adaptations intersect with REDs risk, emphasizing the importance of individualized screening and multidisciplinary care in this diverse population.
3. REDs and the Female Athlete Triad in Tactical/Occupational Athletes
Tactical and occupational female athletes, such as military personnel and first responders, operate in high-stress environments with extreme physical demands and limited recovery opportunities. This chapter examines how these conditions contribute to increased risk for REDs, highlighting the need for specialized screening, nutritional strategies, and operational adjustments to support performance and long-term health.
4. Question and Answer Session
This chapter includes a viewer-submitted Q&A session with questions answered by Teresa L. Schuemann and facilitated by Barb Hoogenboom.
More courses in this series
Female Athlete Health: Energy, REDs, and Nutrition (Recorded Webinar)
Barb Hoogenboom
REDs in Clinical Practice: Screening, Management, and Multidisciplinary Care (Recorded Webinar)
Christine Morgan and Barb Hoogenboom
Specific Populations of Female Athletes: Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (Recorded Webinar)
Teresa L. Schuemann and Barb Hoogenboom
Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise: An Evidence-Based Approach (Recorded Webinar)
Shefali Mathur Christopher and Barb Hoogenboom