Young female elite athletes have a comparatively high prevalence of taking painkillers on their own and therefore run the risk of damaging their health and athletic performance in the long term. Notably, young female athletes have more nonsport-related causes of pain than male athletes do because of the accompanying symptoms of the menstrual cycle. The research project therefore comprises a theory- and empirically based development and evaluation of an athlete-specific painkiller prevention program for young female athletes.

The aim of this project (running from July 2024 to June 2026), which is funded by the Federal Institute of Sports Science, is to support young female athletes in their self-directed use of painkillers, reduce excessive use and strengthen their health literacy. The project is being carried out in cooperation with the elite sports schools of the Lower Saxony and Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein Olympic training centers and the Oberschule an der Ronzelenstraße (Bremen).

Project partners:

• Olympic Training Center Lower Saxony, Elite School of Sport Hanover
• Olympic Training Center Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Elite School of Sport Hamburg
• Sports-oriented secondary school on Ronzelenstraße Bremen

Scientific advisory board:

• Prof. Anne-Marie Elbe (University of Leipzig)
• Prof. Jochen Mayer (University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd)
• PD Dr. Carsten Bantel (Klinikum Oldenburg AöR)

Project management:

• Department “Sport and Education” (Dr. Katharina Pöppel)
• Department “Sport and Training” (Prof. Dr. Dirk Büsch)

Project funding by the Federal Institute for Sports Science (FKZ 2524BI0302, file number: 070302/24-26)

Contact: Dr. Katharina Pöppel, Noelle Storck