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Welcome to our second post of the month! Today, we’ll be diving into the symptoms of RED-S/D (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports and Dance), a common yet often overlooked condition among athletes and dancers.
As we mentioned in our previous post, RED-S/D occurs when the body doesn’t have enough energy to meet the demands of physical activity. This can happen due to a variety of factors, including insufficient food intake, excessive exercise, or dehydration.One of the biggest challenges with RED-S/D is that it’s incredibly difficult to recognize and diagnose, which is why it’s so widespread in sports and dance communities.
In this post, we’ll guide you through the key symptoms to help you spot the warning signs early.
Some very common physical symptoms of RED-S/D are:
- Persistent fatigue and low energy levels
- Frequent injuries, such as stress fractures
- Irregular or missed periods (in female athletes)
- Increased susceptibility to infections and colds
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- Decline in strength, speed, or endurance
- Struggles with recovery between workouts or rehearsals
- Reduced focus and concentration during practices or performances
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Loss of motivation and difficulties with concentration
A related condition often observed in female athletes is the Female Athlete Triad, which shares similarities with RED-S/D. It consists of three interrelated issues:
- Low energy availability (with or without an eating disorder)
- Menstrual dysfunction, such as irregular or absent periods
- Decreased bone density, leading to stress fractures and an increased risk of osteoporosis
The Female Athlete Triad highlights the specific impact of energy deficiency on female athletes, particularly how it affects reproductive health and bone strength. While the triad focuses on female athletes, RED-S/D applies to all genders and covers a broader range of physical and mental symptoms.
The ballet world has adopted unique methods from the sports world to monitor and manage injuries linked to conditions like RED-S/D. One interesting way they do this is by calculating injuries per 1,000 hours of training or performance. These figures vary across different ballet companies and also fluctuate with the intensity of each production. As the demands of specific performances rise, so does the likelihood of injuries, making this data an essential tool for injury prevention and performance management.
If any of these symptoms resonate with you or someone you know, it's important to take action early. Consulting with a coach, healthcare professional, or nutritionist can help prevent further complications and promote recovery.
In our next post, we’ll take a closer look at how RED-S/D affects ballet dancers in particular and why it’s so prevalent in dance. Stay tuned!
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