Keywords
Low energy availability; Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports; Female endurance athletes; Pressure pain threshold; Pain sensitivity
Abstract
The disruption of certain physiological functions due to low energy availability (LEA) in female endurance athletes is a prominent concern. This condition resulting from LEA has been described as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), which can include alterations in metabolism, menstrual function, bone deposition and resorption, mental well-being, and more. The goal of this study was to determine whether pain sensitivity was associated with LEA, sleep, mental health, and stress in female endurance athletes. Participants completed a demographic survey, the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to collect data on their overall physical and mental health. Patients then underwent Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) using a pressure algometer to determine their pain sensitivity. A Pearson correlation analyzed the association between the demographic data, questionnaires, and PPT testing. There was a small to medium negative correlation between pain ratings following PPT testing and LEAF-Q. This was postulated to be due to individuals with LEA developing increased pain-coping mechanisms, as endurance athletes present with less pain sensitivity compared to non-athlete controls in multiple studies. There were no other significant correlations found between PPT and the LEAF-Q, PSQI, PSS, or PHQ-4. This study increased the understanding of the effect of LEA, sleep, mental health, and stress on female endurance athletes’ pain experience.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair
Rothschild, Carey
College
College of Health Professions and Sciences
Department
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Thesis Discipline
Physical Therapy
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
Subjects
Women athletes--Research; Pain--Physiological aspects; Women athletes--Psychology; Endurance sports--Psychological aspects; Athletes--Mental health
STARS Citation
Moler, Taylor R., "The Association Between Pain Sensitivity and Low Energy Availability, Sleep, Mental Health, and Stress in Female Endurance Athletes" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 449.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/449
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