Dr. Vicki Harber of the University of Alberta discusses how the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation uses research to better understand the physical needs of the female athlete, understand the risk factors female student-athletes face and take appropriate action to ensure their well-being.

2. The Healthy Panda Project
Vicki Harber, PhD
V k H b
Faculty of Physical Education &
Recreation
University of Alberta

9. The student‐athlete
What do we know about
What do we know about
the student‐athlete?
What do they bring to the
University of Alberta?
U i i f Alb ?
What do they bring to your
sport?
Are they capable of making
the best choices to
ensure strong academic
and athletic
performance?

10. Components of Performance
Nutrition
Physical Technical
Tactical Mental
Sleep/Rest/Recovery

11. Athletic Performance
Smith DJ

12. “Injury” model
Elliot et al

13. Create programs that:
Create programs that:
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1.Prevent injury,
1. Prevent injury,
2.Provide effective intervention when needed,
2. Provide effective intervention when needed,
2 Provide effective intervention when needed
3.Educate and support athletes and coaches
3. Educate and support athletes and coaches
about sustained habits needed to ensure best
b i d h bi d d b
training practices, performance and recovery.

14. Surveillance/Monitoring
What needs to be tracked?
What needs to be tracked?
• Injury?
• Nutrition?
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• Training (volume, load, intensity, etc)?
• Sleep?
• Recovery?
• Others?

15. The Healthy Panda project: the
beginning
• 1993 Joan Matthews‐White initiated the
1993 Joan Matthews White initiated the
change in medical questionnaire
• female and male athletes completed the
female and male athletes completed the
SAME medical questionnaires
• Questionnaires were separated into FEMALE
Questionnaires were separated into FEMALE
and MALE athlete
• Additional questions added to FEMALE form
Additional questions added to FEMALE form
to address nutrition, reproductive profile and
bone health

16. Sport Science Association of Alberta
Sport Science Association of Alberta
“Creating and maintaining optimal sport performance: Monitoring
injuries and medical issues within the female varsity athlete”
i j i d di l i ithi th f l it thl t ”
Background:
Female athletes experience specific injuries and medical problems that
result from or impact their athletic activity. The University of
result from or impact their athletic activity The University of
Alberta does not keep a database or ongoing reporting system that
is dedicated to sports injury analysis or medical issues. Our female
athletes rely on the sports medical staff for guidance to enable safe
participation in sport at the elite (varsity) level yet this type of
information is not monitored over time. Interruptions to an
athlete’s training can best be avoided with effective prevention
programs. In the event of such a disruption, rapid return to sport
programs In the event of such a disruption rapid return to sport
can be supported by successful rehabilitation treatments. Creating
and maintaining optimal sport performance for our athletes
requires an ongoing reporting system.

17. Data
• 6 years (starting in 2004 2005)
6 years (starting in 2004‐2005)
• Approx 200 athletes/year
• Does not include curling and golf
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• Questions ask about known risk factors
(menstrual profile, eating attitudes/habits,
bone health)
Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

18. Age of menarche (%)
Age of menarche (%)
Year 10‐15 yr 16‐18 yr
2004‐2005 93 4
2005‐2006 86 6
2006‐2007 92 7
2007‐2008 89 9
2008‐2009 92 7
2009‐2010 89 8
Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

19. Diets to reduce weight (%)
Diets to reduce weight (%)
Year YES NO
2004‐2005
2004 2005 17 82
2005‐2006 15 78
2006‐2007 11 87
2007‐2008 17 80
2008‐2009 18 79
2009 2010
2009‐2010 15 82
Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

20. Satisfied with body (%)
Satisfied with body (%)
Year YES NO
2004‐2005 80 19
2005‐2006 73 19
2006 2007
2006‐2007 78 21
2007‐2008 72 25
2008‐2009 76 22
2009‐2010 72 25
Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

21. Eating disorder (%)
Eating disorder (%)
Year YES NO
2004‐2005 0 99
2005‐2006 1 92
2006 2007
2006‐2007 0 97
2007‐2008 2 96
2008‐2009 3 96
2009‐2010 2 95
Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

22. What s next?
What’s next?
• Continued data collection
Continued data collection
• Data analysis
• Provide information to coaches/athletes
id i f i h / hl
• Explore potential for improved
monitoring/surveillance
• Other possibilities?
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23. Avoid the avoidable!!
Avoid the avoidable!!