Eating disorders (ED), disordered eating (DE) and low energy availability (LEA) can be detrimental to health and performance. Previous studies have independently investigated the prevalence of ED, DE or LEA; however, few combined methods have identified risk within female athletes. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of ED, DE and LEA in UK‐based female athletes and investigate whether associations exist between age, competition level and primary sport. The Female Athlete Screening Tool (FAST) and Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF‐Q) were used in a cross‐sectional study design. A total of 112 responses eligible for analysis were received. A total of 16%, 44% and 53% of female athletes were at risk of ED (FAST: >94), DE and LEA, respectively. Competition level (recreational, competitive or professional athletes; fishers, p ≤ 0.05) influenced and was a predictor of FAST (R ² = 0.076, F _(1,110) = 10.067, p ≤ 0.05, variance inflation value; VIF = 1.0) whereas age influenced (age: H ₍₂₎ = 13.128, p ≤ 0.05), and was a predictor (R ² = 0.144, F _(2,109) = 9.170, p ≤ 0.05, VIF = 1.0) of LEAF‐Q. A positive correlation was observed between FAST and LEAF‐Q scores (R = 0.496, p ≤ 0.05). Age and competition level may be predicting risk factors of ED/DE and LEA within female athletes; however, further research is required to support the findings of this present study.

Russell, M, Birch, J, Love, T, Cook, CJ, Bracken, RM, Taylor, T, Swift, E, Cockburn, E, Finn, C, Cunningham, D, Wilson, L, and Kilduff, LP. The effects of a single whole-body cryotherapy exposure on physiological, performance, and perceptual responses of professional academy soccer players after repeated sprint exercise.J Strength Cond Res31(2): 415–421, 2017—In professional youth soccer players, the physiological, performance, and perceptual effects of a single whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) session performed shortly after repeated sprint exercise were investigated. In a randomized, counterbalanced, and crossover design, 14 habituated English Premier League academy soccer players performed 15 × 30 m sprints (each followed by a 10 m forced deceleration) on 2 occasions. Within 20 minutes of exercise cessation, players entered a WBC chamber (Cryo: 30 seconds at −60° C, 120 seconds at −135° C) or remained seated (Con) indoors in temperate conditions (∼25° C). Blood and saliva samples, peak power output (countermovement jump), and perceptual indices of recovery and soreness were assessed pre-exercise and immediately, 2-hour and 24-hour postexercise. When compared with Con, a greater testosterone response was observed at 2-hour (+32.5 ± 32.3 pg·ml⁻¹, +21%) and 24-hour (+50.4 ± 48.9 pg·ml⁻¹, +28%) postexercise (bothP= 0.002) in Cryo (trial × treatment interaction:P= 0.001). No between-trial differences were observed for other salivary (cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratio), blood (lactate and creatine kinase), performance (peak power output), or perceptual (recovery or soreness) markers (all trial × treatment interactions:P> 0.05); all of which were influenced by exercise (time effects: allP≤ 0.05). A single session of WBC performed within 20 minutes of repeated sprint exercise elevated testosterone concentrations for 24 hours but did not affect any other performance, physiological, or perceptual measurements taken. Although unclear, WBC may be efficacious for professional soccer players during congested fixture periods.

Eating disorders (ED), disordered eating (DE) and low energy availability (LEA) can be detrimental to health and performance. Previous studies have independently investigated the prevalence of ED, DE or LEA; however, limited studies have combined methods identifying risk within female runners. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of ED, DE and LEA in United Kingdom‐based female runners and associations between age, competition level and running distance. The Female Athlete Screening Tool (FAST) and Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF‐Q) were used in a cross‐sectional study design. A total of n = 524 responses eligible for analysis were received. A total of n = 248 (47.3%), n = 209 (40%) and n = 49 (9.4%) athletes were at risk of LEA, DE and ED, respectively. LEAF‐Q scores differed based upon age (Age: H_{(3) =} 23.998, p ≤ .05) and competitive level (Comp: H_{(1 )} = 7.682, p ≤ .05) whereas FAST scores differed based on age (Age: F_(3,523) = 4.753, p ≤ .05). Tukey's post‐hoc tests showed significantly higher FAST scores in 18–24 years compared to all other age categories (p ≤ .05). Stepwise multiple regression demonstrated age and competitive level modestly predicted LEAF‐Q scores (R ² _adj = 0.047, F_(2,523) = 13.993, p ≤ .05, VIF = 1.0) whereas age modestly predicted FAST scores (R ² _adj = 0.022, F_(1,523) = 12.711, p ≤ .05, VIF = 1.0). These findings suggest early identification, suitable screening methods and educational intervention programmes should be aimed at all levels of female endurance runners.Highlights A total of 524 female endurance completed a self‐administered, online questionnaire screening for low energy availability, disordered eating and eating disorders risk. Age and competitive level modestly predicted low energy availability and age modestly predicted disordered eating and eating disorders in female endurance runners. A higher percentage of 18‐ to 24‐year‐old female endurance runners were at greater risk of low energy availability, disordered eating and eating disorders compared to other age categories. These findings highlight the need for regular screening in order to aid early interventions to prevent potential decrements in performance and health as endurance runners mature.

Purpose: Cherry juice (CJ) and cold water immersion (CWI) are both effective recovery strategies following strenuous endurance exercise. However, athletes routinely combine recovery interventions and less is known about the impact of a combined CJ and CWI protocol. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of combining CWI and CJ (a “cocktail” (CT)) on inflammation and muscle damage following a marathon.Methods: A total 39 endurance trained males were randomly assigned to a placebo (PL), CWI, CJ, or CT group before completing a trail marathon run. Muscle damage (creatine kinase (CK)), muscle function (maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)), and inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6); C-reactive protein (CRP)) were measured at baseline, immediately after marathon (only IL-6), 24 h, and 48 h after marathon.Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups and no group × time interaction effects for any of the dependent variables. Confidence intervals (CI) illustrated that CT had unclear effects on inflammation (IL-6; CRP) and MVIC, but may have increased CK to a greater extent than PL and CJ conditions.Conclusion: There is no evidence of an additive effect of CJ and CWI when the treatments are used in conjunction with each other. On the contrary, combining CJ and CWI may result in slightly increased circulating CK.