The prevalence of Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders among college athletes was the focus of a study presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2011, held May 7th-11th in Chicago, IL.

Conducted by Drexel University School of Medicine, researchers found that Division I athletes playing high intensity sports such as lacrosse, crew, and swimming were more likely to experience symptoms associated with GI disorders compared with other college students and athletes.

From HealthDay News:

“’The mechanics and aerobic dynamic of the highest intensity sports may cause functional GI disorders,’ Dr. Asyia Ahmad, an associate professor of medicine at Drexel, speculated in a meeting news release.

Rowing, Ahmad warned, is among the most risky sports for GI issues since the sport involves strenuous repetitive motions of the abdominal muscles. ‘The resulting disorders are the kind that can really impact quality of life,’ she added.”

To read more about this study, click here:

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=652675