Author(s): STENNETT, R., PLATEAU, C.R., NAHMAN, C., BLAGROVE, R.C., Institution: LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 2524

INTRODUCTION:
The Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) syndrome is a serious medical condition associated with a myriad of impairments to physiological systems and performance [1], including neuromuscular function [2]. For young athletes who are returning to sport following severe REDs, impairments in strength may be detrimental to performance and increase the likelihood of injury. No previous studies have compared the differences in sport-relevant measures of neuromuscular performance between athletes recovering from REDs and healthy controls, thus this study aimed to address this dearth in literature.
METHODS:
Using a cross-sectional design, this study compared a group of participants (age 14-25 years) medically diagnosed with severe REDs recently (<3 months) cleared to resume exercise, and a group of age-, sex-, and sport-matched controls. Following a familiarisation visit 3-10 days prior, participants performed a standardised warm up before completing the following tests on fixed dual force plates sampling at 2000Hz; counter-movement jump (CMJ), 0.3m drop rebound jump (DJ) and an isometric mid-thigh-pull (IMTP). Participants were permitted three attempts at each test interspersed with a 60 sec recovery. Data were analysed to quantify CMJ height, DJ reactive strength index, and IMTP maximal force. Independent samples T-tests were used for between-group comparisons and effect size was quantified using Cohens d. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
RESULTS:
To date, data has been collected on fourteen participants (8 REDs and 6 controls; 7 and 5 females respectively ). Height, body mass, body mass index and age were all similar between groups (p>0.05). CMJ height was found to be greater in the control group (0.29 ± 0.03m) compared to the REDs group (0.25 ± 0.03m; p=0.034 , d=0.55). DJ rebound height was also greater in the control group (0.27 ± 0.03m) compared to the REDs group (0.22 ± 0.05m; p=0.029 , d=0.62). All other measures (DJ reactive strength index, DJ ground contact time and IMTP maximal force) were not different between groups.
CONCLUSION:
Preliminary data indicates that young athletes recovering from severe REDs have significant deficits in jump performance metrics compared to healthy counterparts. Thus, REDs appears to have a negative impact on reactive and explosive strength producing capabilities that may impair performance and leave an athlete vulnerable to injury upon their return to sport.
REFERENCES:
1. Mountjoy, M., Ackerman, K., Bailey, D., Burke, L., Constantini, N., Hackney, A., Heikura, I., Melin, A., Pensgaard, A., & Stellingwerff, T. (2023). 2023 International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) consensus statement on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs). British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(17).
2. Tornberg, Å. B., Melin, A., Koivula, F. M., Johansson, A., Skouby, S., Faber, J., & Sjödin, A. (2017). Reduced neuromuscular performance in amenorrheic elite endurance athletes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(12), 2478–2485.