"Female Athletes Health Support Seminar 2018" was held! | Juntendo University Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport

“Female Athletes Health Support Seminar 2018” Event report

For female athletes in the period of growth, in addition to the “energy required to live and make a living” and “energy required for growth and development”, “energy required for exercising” is necessary. However, excessive exercise can reduce the “energy required for growth and development”, leading to cases peculiar to female athletes such as short stature, amenorrhea, anemia, and fatigue fractures. To introduce a new index using “Lean Body Mass” to avoid female athletes from falling into energy shortage without realizing it, the “Female Athletes Health Support Seminar 2018” was held on Saturday, February 10, 2018.

Opening Address from Dr. Etsuko Ogasawara, Executive Director of the Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport and Professor of Sport Management, the Graduate School of Health and Sport Science at Juntendo University

Keynote Speech

First, Dr. Takao Matsuda, Director of Nishibeppu National Hospital Sports Medicine Center, and the Head of Gynecology gave a keynote speech on “Resolve the energy shortage of female athletes in the period of growth and increase lean body mass (muscle and bone mass)!”

While showing several cases of female athletes, he explained that depending on the physique, energy shortage may affect the athlete to be unable to perform the training as they expected. He also emphasized that it is important to focus on the changes in growth peak, lean body mass, and bone density instead of following the conventional way where “body fat rate” and “weight” are considered important. Participants were all listening attentively to the latest information supported by the study and research.

Dr. Matsuda sharing valuable information

Presentation of “Surari-chan’s growth and muscle table”

The index to solve energy shortage called “Surari-chan’s growth and muscle table” that supports athletes in their growth period was introduced as a product of the “Female Athletes Development and Support Project” re-entrusted by Japan Sports Agency in 2016 and 2017.The product was jointly developed by Juntendo University and National Hospital Organization Nishibeppu National Hospital based on the information obtained from the research conducted as an entrusted assignment by the Japan Sports Agency in 2014 and 2015 as part of the “Development and Support Project for Female Athletes”.
Akiko Sekiguchi, a staff member of the Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport, introduced the usage of the product in detail.

* “Surari-chan’s growth and muscle table (Japanese version)” can be downloaded from the website of the Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport.

Panel Discussion

In the panel discussion titled ” Key factor for a growth spurt – Lean body mass! – “, points to keep in mind to solve the energy shortage of female athletes in their period of growth and the key to expedite growth were explained in detail from various standpoints. This session was coordinated by Ms. Natsue Koikawa, Deputy Director of the Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport and Senior Associate Professor at Juntendo University Faculty of Health and Sports Science.

Each expert from various fields gave lectures during the panel discussion.

Ms. Ikuko Sato, who has been in charge of sports nutrition guidance for female athletes at Women’s Sports Medicine Clinic at Juntendo University Hospital and Urayasu Hospital since their establishment, shared her idea of energy intake for junior athletes and strongly emphasized that “growth will not be promoted if athletes are not able to eat well because they are exhausted from practicing long hours.” In particular, she explained that it is important to secure the nutrition and energy that are necessary for exercise while also ensuring nutrition necessary for healthy growth and development.

Ms. Ikuko Sato, who is in charge of nutritional guidance at “Women’s Sports Medicine Clinic”, explained in an easy-to-understand manner by sharing example cases

Sleep Expert and Associate Professor,
Dr. Takatoshi Kasai, provided the latest information based on various research data

Dr. Takatoshi Kasai, Associate Professor of the Endowed Chair in Cardiology and Cardio-Respiratory Sleep Medicine at Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine A Sleep Expert, explained that there is a relationship between sleep quality and growth hormone secretion. Moreover, he emphasized that children in their period of growth must get about 10 hours of sleep each day and they must try to get a high-quality sleep (deep sleep) to stimulate growth hormone secretion, and explained clearly about the necessary points.

Also, Ms. Mikiko Hagiwara, who is a women’s junior special coach of the Japan Basketball Association and played as a top basketball athlete in both Japan and abroad, presented the episodes related to her growth. She shared her own experience that she was engaged in not only basketball but also in other sports, ate well, and had 10 hours of sleep every day in her growth period. She also explained her sports competition results at each growth stage.

Ms. Mikiko Hagiwara, women’s junior special coach of the Japan Basketball Association She explained her phases of growth and competition results

As a coordinator, Ms. Natsue Koikawa, a Senior Associate Professor, showed the transition of Ms. Hagiwara’s weight by a graph based on her growth record that she collected in advance, and introduced it along with her episodes during her growth stage. When the graph was applied to the “Surari-chan’s growth and muscle table”, it perfectly fitted into the “appropriate muscle zone” in the “Surari-chan’s growth and muscle table” which surprised the audience. Participants were also impressed and applauded to the fact that the case of Ms. Hagiwara was one of the good evidences that shows how her exercise and lifestyle during her period of growth stimulated the secretion of growth hormone and height increase to become her current physique.

In the last question and answer session, coaches, support staff, and athlete’s parents who participated in the seminar asked serious questions related to everyday life and training, making it an audience participation type seminar.

Childcare room

At this seminar as well, a “childcare room” was set up in the facility and specialized staff members took good care of the children, so participants and staff with small children could participate without anxiety.

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