Female trail running: a systematic scoping review

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Trail running is increasingly popular among women.
• Existing research on female trail runners' unique physiological demands, performance factors, and injuries is limited.
• A comprehensive understanding of female trail runners' specific needs is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the research landscape on female trail runners.
• To synthesize evidence on physiological, nutritional, injury, and performance aspects.
• To identify knowledge gaps for future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a scoping systematic review of original peer-reviewed articles.
• Searched four major databases up to December 2024.
• Assessed methodological quality using the STROBE checklist.

Main Results:

• 22 studies (≈2,476 participants) were included, mostly from the last decade.
• Research predominantly focused on physiology (10 studies) and nutrition (6 studies), with less on injuries (4) or performance (3).
• Studies showed exercise-induced stress and links between nutrition, body composition, and performance, but reporting inconsistencies (e.g., menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives) were prevalent.

Conclusions:

• Current research on female trail runners is growing but constrained by reporting inconsistencies and a lack of female-specific physiological data.
• Standardized reporting guidelines and robust, longitudinal studies are needed.
• Future research should focus on hormonal influences, energy availability, training, and injury prevention tailored for female trail runners.