The Healthy Panda ProjectThe Healthy Panda ProjectThe Healthy Panda ProjectThe Healthy Panda Project

V k H b PhDV k H b PhDVicki Harber, PhDVicki Harber, PhDFaculty of Physical Education & Faculty of Physical Education &

RecreationRecreationRecreationRecreationUniversity of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta

The student‐athlete

What do we know aboutWhat do we know about the student‐athlete?

What do they bring to the U i i f Alb ?University of Alberta?

What do they bring to your sport?sport?

Are they capable of making the best choices to ensure strong academic and athletic performance?performance?

Components of Performance

Nutrition

PhysicalPhysical TechnicalTechnical

TacticalTactical MentalMental

Sleep/Rest/Recovery

Athletic Performance

Smith DJ

“Injury” model

Elliot et al

Create programs thatCreate programs that::p gp g

1.1.Prevent injury,Prevent injury,

22 Provide effective intervention when neededProvide effective intervention when needed2.2.Provide effective intervention when needed,Provide effective intervention when needed,

3.3.Educate and support athletes and coaches Educate and support athletes and coaches b i d h bi d d bb i d h bi d d babout sustained habits needed to ensure best about sustained habits needed to ensure best training practices, performance and recovery.training practices, performance and recovery.

Surveillance/MonitoringSurveillance/Monitoring

What needs to be tracked?What needs to be tracked? 

• Injury? 

i i ?• Nutrition?

• Training (volume, load, intensity, etc)?

• Sleep?

• Recovery?Recovery?

• Others?

The Healthy Panda project: the The Healthy Panda project: the beginningbeginning

• 1993 Joan Matthews‐White initiated the1993 Joan Matthews White initiated the change in medical questionnaire

• female and male athletes completed thefemale and male athletes completed the SAME medical questionnaires

• Questionnaires were separated into FEMALEQuestionnaires were separated into FEMALE and MALE athlete

• Additional questions added to FEMALE formAdditional questions added to FEMALE form to address nutrition, reproductive profile and bone health

Sport Science Association of AlbertaSport Science Association of AlbertaSport Science Association of AlbertaSport Science Association of Alberta

“Creating and maintaining optimal sport performance: Monitoring i j i d di l i ithi th f l it thl t ”injuries and medical issues within the female varsity athlete”

Background:Female athletes experience specific injuries and medical problems that 

result from or impact their athletic activity The University ofresult 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 sportprograms.  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.

DataData

• 6 years (starting in 2004‐2005)6 years (starting in 2004 2005)

• Approx 200 athletes/year

i l d li d lf• Does not include curling and golf

• Questions ask about known risk factors (menstrual profile, eating attitudes/habits, bone health)

Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

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)

Diets to reduce weight (%)Diets to reduce weight (%)

Year YES NO

2004 2005 17 822004‐2005 17 82

2005‐2006 15 78

2006‐2007 11 87

2007‐2008 17 80

2008‐2009 18 79

2009‐2010 15 822009 2010 15 82

Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

Satisfied with body (%)Satisfied with body (%)

Year YES NO

2004‐2005 80 19

2005‐2006 73 19

2006‐2007 78 212006 2007 78 21

2007‐2008 72 25

2008‐2009 76 22

2009‐2010 72 25

Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

Eating disorder (%)Eating disorder (%)

Year YES NO

2004‐2005 0 99

2005‐2006 1 92

2006‐2007 0 972006 2007 0 97

2007‐2008 2 96

2008‐2009 3 96

2009‐2010 2 95

Harber and Matthews‐White (unpublished)

What’s next?What’s next?What s next?What s next?

• Continued data collectionContinued data collection

• Data analysis

id i f i h / hl• Provide information to coaches/athletes

• Explore potential for improved monitoring/surveillance

• Other possibilities?p

Avoid the avoidable!!Avoid the avoidable!!