Hormonal Challenges and Therapeutic Strategies in Sports Medicine

Sports endocrinology is an emerging field dealing with the intricate relationship between hormonal dynamics and athletic performance. Understanding how hormone levels, such as testosterone, growth hormone, estradiol and others correlate with performance indicators including speed and strength is crucial for optimizing athletic abilities. Recent studies have focused on identifying relative energy deficiency in sports in athletes as well as focused on the female athletes and performance changes regarding the menstrual cycle phase. Other areas of concern include athletes’ bone health, where conditions such as osteopenia, osteoporosis, and stress fractures pose significant risks.

The increase in chronic traumatic injuries has also put the spotlight on hypopituitarism, particularly in contact sports that frequently involve head injuries like combat sports, American football and soccer. Additionally, the continuing prevalence of hormonal doping, involving substances such as anabolic-androgenic steroids, growth hormone, and erythropoietin, raises ethical and health concerns. This makes it critical to investigate methods for effective monitoring, such as the athlete's biological passport, which tracks hormonal profiles and therapeutic use exemptions for those with endocrine disorders.

This Research Topic aims to further our understanding of hormonal issues faced by athletes and explore innovative therapeutic interventions. Key objectives include improving diagnostic methods and developing effective strategies for addressing testosterone deficiency and relative energy deficiencies. Additionally, the research seeks to clarify the impact of exercise as a therapeutic tool in hormone regulation and uncover non-doping techniques for performance enhancement.

To gather further insights into the complex relationship between hormones and sports, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Hormonal profiles and athletic performance indicators.
o Testosterone deficiency: Identification and correction techniques.
o Relative energy deficiency in sports.
o Female menstrual cycle and performance.
o Bone health in athletes: Risks and prevention strategies.
o Chronic traumatic hypopituitarism and its implications for sports, the impact of concussion on hormones.
o Ethical considerations and monitoring of hormonal doping.
o Exercise as a therapeutic intervention for correction of hormonal abnormalities including type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity.

We welcome various article types, including original research, reviews, case reports, and clinical studies, to contribute to this comprehensive Research Topic.

Keywords: Sports, Endocrinology, Hormones, Sports Medicine, Bone Health, Performance, Testosterone, Relative Energy Deficiency, Doping

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.