FENDURA (The Female Endurance Athlete) is a research project led by the School of Sport Sciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, in close collaboration with NTNU, Olympiatoppen, Norges Skiforbund and Norges Skiskytterforbund. The projects aims at improving the sparse knowledge of how hormonal and other female-specific aspects impact exercise and performance among female endurance athletes. The FENDURA project is focused on researching female athletes, to better understand female-specific challenges, and to improve the performance and health of these athletes.

Project Structure

Media

16.06.2023

FENDURA members win the 2023 Female Athlete Conference 'Best Presentation Award'

08.03.2023

Doktorgradsstudent, Hanne Staff, intervjuet av TV2 om hennes forskning på kvinnelige eliteidrettsutøvere treningsdagbøker og logging

05.01.2023

FENDURA-medlemmer sørger for seminar for utøvere på Alfheim med Olympiatoppen

FENDURA members win the 2023 Female Athlete Conference 'Best Presentation Award'

Published: 16.06.2023

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Doktorgradsstudent, Hanne Staff, intervjuet av TV2 om hennes forskning på kvinnelige eliteidrettsutøvere treningsdagbøker og logging

Published: 08.03.2023

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FENDURA-medlemmer sørger for seminar for utøvere på Alfheim med Olympiatoppen

Published: 05.01.2023

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Recent Publications

2023

1. Engseth TP, Andersson EP, Solli GS, Morseth B, Thomassen TO, Noordhof DA, Sandbakk Ø and Welde B (2022).Prevalence and Self-Perceived Experiences With the Use of Hormonal Contraceptives Among Competitive Female Cross-Country Skiers and Biathletes in Norway: The FENDURA Project. Front. Sports Act. Living 4:873222. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.873222
   
   
2. Majumder, T., De Martin Topranin, V., Sandbakk, Ø., & Noordhof, D. A. (2022). Indian Endurance Athletes' Menstrual Cycle: Practices, Knowledge, Communication, Health, and Changes in Perceptions Across the Phases. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 17(12), 1706–1715. 10.1123/ijspp.2022-0131
   
   
3. von Rosen, P., Ekenros, L., Solli, G. S., Sandbakk, Ø., Holmberg, H. C., Hirschberg, A. L., & Fridén, C. (2022). Offered Support and Knowledge about the Menstrual Cycle in the Athletic Community: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1086 Female Athletes. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(19), 11932. https://doi-org.mime.uit.no/10.3390/ijerph191911932
   
   
4. Haugen, T., Sandbakk, Ø., Seiler, S., & Tønnessen, E. (2022). The Training Characteristics of World-Class Distance Runners: An Integration of Scientific Literature and Results-Proven Practice. Sports medicine - open, 8(1), 46. https://doi-org/10.1186/s40798-022-00438-7
   
   
5. Almquist, N. W., Sandbakk, Ø., & Solli, G. S. (2022). Performance-Related Physiological and Haematological Changes During Pregnancy and Postpartum in a Well-Trained Cyclist Performing Endurance Training. Frontiers in physiology, 13, 762950. https://doi-org.10.3389/fphys.2022.762950
   
   
6. Noordhof, D. A., Janse de Jonge, X. A. K., Hackney, A. C., de Koning, J. J., & Sandbakk, Ø. (2022). Sport-Science Research on Female Athletes: Dealing With the Paradox of Concurrent Increases in Quantity and Quality. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 17(7), 993–994. https://doi-org.10.1123/ijspp.2022-0185
   
   
7. Bucher Sandbakk S, Tønnessen E, Haugen T, Sandbakk Ø. Training and coaching of female vs. male endurance athletes on their road to gold. Perceptions among successful elite athlete coaches. Dtsch Z Sportmed. 2022; 73: 251-258. doi:10.5960/dzsm.2022.549

Pre-2022

1. Solli GS, Sandbakk SB, Noordhof DA, Ihalainen JK, Sandbakk Ø. Changes in Self-Reported Physical Fitness, Performance, and Side Effects Across the Phases of the Menstrual Cycle Among Competitive Endurance Athletes.Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2020 Sep 21:1-10. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2019-0616. Epub ahead of print. 
   
   
2. Solli GS, Sandbakk Ø. Training Characteristics During Pregnancy and Postpartum in the World's Most Successful Cross Country Skier. Front Physiol. 2018 May 23;9:595. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00595. 

Recent Conference Presentations and Posters

*Note: only first author displayed.

2023

• European College of Sports Science (ECSS) Annual Conference - Paris, France.
• Taylor, Madison. The influence of menstrual cycle phase on physiological endurance performance-determining variables in endurance-trained athletes. Link
  
• Noordhof, D. The influence of menstrual cycle phase on physiological endurance performance-determining variables in endurance-trained athletes. Link
  
  
• Female Athlete Conference 2023 - Boston, USA
• Engseth, Tina P.; Staff, Hanne; Taylor, Madison. The Female Endurance Athlete (FENDURA): exploring some of the missing links in exercise physiology. Link
  
  
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Annual Meeting - Denver, USA.
• Osborne, John Owen. Does Menstrual Cycle Phase Affect Physical Performance Of Female Team Handball Athletes? A comparison between different hormonal-contraceptive users and non-users. Link
  
  
• International Congress on Science and Skiing (ICSS) - Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria
• Osborne, John Owen. The effect of serum hormone concentrations on double poling sprint and countermovement jump performance: the female endurance athlete (FENDURA) project. Link
  
  
• Amsterdam Institute of Sport Science (AISS) ‘Women in Sport’ - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Osborne, John Owen. Research and findings from the FENDURA project. Link
  

2022

• Nordic Winter Sports Conference - Östersund, Sweden
• de Martin Topranin, Virginia. Prevalence of subtle menstrual disturbances in female endurance athletes of different performance levels: The FENDURA Project. Link
  
  
• European College of Sports Science (ECSS) Annual Conference - Seville, Spain.
• Osborne, John Owen. Annual training characteristics of competitive Norwegian female cross-country skiers and biathletes: the FENDURA project. Link
• de Martin Topranin, Virginia. The FENDURA Project: does menstrual cycle phase influence recovery measures in endurance athletes? A pilot study. Link
• Engseth, Tina P. Influence of menstruation/withdrawal bleed on self-reported physical and psychological day-to-day parameters in Norwegian cross-country skiers and biathletes: the FENDURA project. Link
  
  
• 14th Annual Conference of the Transnational Working Group for the Study of Gender and Sport - Bodø, Norway.
• Osborne, John Owen. Overview of the FENDURA project and descriptive training of Norwegian female cross-country skiers and biathletes. Link
• Engseth, Tina P. Prevalence and self-perceived influence of hormonal contraceptive use among female endurance athletes: The FENDURA Project. 
• Staff, Hanne. Describe long-term physiological, performance and training development of medal-winning Norwegian female endurance athletes – FENDURA project. 

FENDURA Master and Bachelor Theses

Master Students

• 2023
• Hyppighet og alvorlighetsgrad av selvopplevde menstruasjonssymptomer og bivirkninger ved bruk av hormonell prevensjon, sett i sammenheng med fysisk aktivitet i idrett og trening [UiT IH]
• Prevalence of hormonal contraceptive use and menstrual cycle disturbances in Norwegian women [UiT IH]
• The effect of menstrual cycle phase on subjective sleep and recovery measures [NTNU]
• The effect of menstrual cycle phas on blood glucose and respiratory exchange ratio during high vs. low-intensity exercise [NTNU]
• Endurance trainability during the menstrual cycle evaluated by selected physiological and subjective parameters [NIH]

• 2022
• Helseattest for kvinnelige utøvere innenfor langrenn og skiskyting [UiT ISM]
• Effects of the menstrual cycle on sports-physiological performance in female team handball players [UiT IH]
• The menstrual cycle impact on physiological determinants important for endurance performance [NIH]
• The influence of menstrual cycle phases on performance-determining physiological variables in well-trained female endurance athletes [Høyskolen Kristiania]
• Effects of Menstrual Cyle Phase on Self-Chosen Training Load among Endurance Athletes [NTNU]

• 2019
• Menstruationscykelns påverkan på uthållighetskapacitet hos konditionstränade kvinnor [UiT ISM]

Bachelor Students

• 2022
• Menstruasjonssyklusens betydning under trening og kamp. En kvalitativ undersøkelse av håndballspilleres opplevelse og håndtering av menstruasjonssyklusen i konkurranse og trening [UiT IH]
• The Influence of The Side Effects from The Menstrual Cycle on Performance and The Prevalence of Hormonal Contraception in Female Handball Players in Northern Norway [UiT IH]

• 2021
• Use of hormonal contraceptives among elite athletes and the reason for use [UiT ISM]

• 2020
• Utholdenhetstrening og menstruasjonssyklus - En narrativ litteraturstudie [UiT ISM]

FENDURA Team

John Owen OsborneAssociate Professor (Group leader)

John Owen Osborne  –  Associate Professor

Research interests:

• Female athletes and physiology;
• Influence of hormonal contraceptives on exercise performance;
• Environmental exercise physiology;
• Low energy availability, menstrual function, bone health, and REDs;
• Neuromuscular performance and fatigue (central and peripheral);
• Sports nutrition and supplementation.

Contact:

Position: Associate Professor

E-mail: john.owen.osborne@uit.no

Work phone: +4777645827

Link to employee page (John Owen Osborne)

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Øyvind SandbakkProfessor

Øyvind Sandbakk  –  Professor

NTNU

Contact:

Position: Professor

Homepage: https://www.ntnu.edu/employees/oyvind.sandbakk

Professor with the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, NTNU. Managing director at the Centre for Elite Sports Research. My research focus on improving the understanding of elite sports performances, mainly by investigating integrative physiology and biomechanics, the effects of strength and endurance training, as well as the utilization of new technology to gain further understanding of these aspects in real-life environments. I also teach these topics in BA and MA courses focusing on training and performance, as well as the top coach education program. I am additionally head of research and development at the Norwegian Olympic Sports Center (Olympiatoppen), and thereby work on a daily basis with experts, coaches and athletes and to optimize the interaction between research and “best practice”.

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Bente MorsethProfessor

Bente Morseth  –  Professor

Research interests:

• Physical activity and public health, population studies
• Physical activity epidemiology
• Physical activity and cardiovascular disease
• Physical activity and osteoporosis
• Sensor technology in physical activity

• Female endurance athletes

Involved in projects such as 

• NEXAF
• FENDURA
• The Tromsø Study
• Fit Futures
• SAMINOR

Served on various research committees, including the Reference Group for New National Guidelines for Physical Activity at Helsedirektoratet.

Contact:

Position: Professor

E-mail: bente.morseth@uit.no

Work phone: +4777660769

Private phone: +47 40 23 95 85

Link to employee page (Bente Morseth)

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Boye WeldeAssociate Professor

Boye Welde  –  Associate Professor

Research interests:

Strength and conditioning training, muscle physiology, respiratory physiology, physical activity and health.

Contact:

Position: Associate Professor

E-mail: boye.welde@uit.no

Work phone: +4777625260

Private phone: 99357696

Link to employee page (Boye Welde)

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Dionne NoordhofAssociate Professor

Dionne Noordhof  –  Associate Professor

NTNU

Contact:

Position: Associate Professor

E-mail: dionne.a.noordhof@ntnu.no

Homepage: https://www.ntnu.no/ansatte/dionne.a.noordhof

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Guro Strøm SolliAssistant Professor

Guro Strøm Solli  –  Assistant Professor

Nord universitet

Contact:

Position: Assistant Professor

E-mail: guro.s.solli@nord.no

Homepage: https://www.nord.no/en/employees/guro-stroem-solli

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Thomas HaugenAssociate Professor

Thomas Haugen  –  Associate Professor

Høyskolen Kristiania

Contact:

Position: Associate Professor

E-mail: Thomas.Haugen@kristiania.no

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Erik P Andersson

Erik P Andersson

Research interests:

Sports Science

Exercise Performance

Exercise Physiology

Endurance Sports

Contact:

E-mail: erik.andersson@uit.no

Work phone: +4777648352

Link to employee page (Erik P Andersson)

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Hanne Cesilie StaffDoctoral Research Fellow

Hanne Cesilie Staff  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

Contact:

Position: Doctoral Research Fellow

E-mail: hanne.c.staff@uit.no

Work phone: +4777645758

Link to employee page (Hanne Cesilie Staff)

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Tina Pettersen EngsethDoctoral Research Fellow

Tina Pettersen Engseth  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

Research interests:

• Influence of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive use on recovery, performance and wellness
• Female athlete and physiology
• Womens health
• Physical activity and health
• Exercise physiology

Contact:

Position: Doctoral Research Fellow

E-mail: tina.engseth@uit.no

Work phone: +4778450102

Link to employee page (Tina Pettersen Engseth)

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Madison TaylorDoctoral Research Fellow

Madison Taylor  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

Contact:

Position: Doctoral Research Fellow

E-mail: madison.taylor@uit.no

Work phone: +4777645572

Link to employee page (Madison Taylor)

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Tor Oskar ThomassenAssociate Professor

Tor Oskar Thomassen  –  Associate Professor

Contact:

Position: Associate Professor

E-mail: tor.o.thomassen@uit.no

Work phone: +4778450252

Private phone: 40871277

Link to employee page (Tor Oskar Thomassen)

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John Owen OsborneAssociate Professor (Group leader)

John Owen Osborne  –  Associate Professor

Research interests:

• Female athletes and physiology;
• Influence of hormonal contraceptives on exercise performance;
• Environmental exercise physiology;
• Low energy availability, menstrual function, bone health, and REDs;
• Neuromuscular performance and fatigue (central and peripheral);
• Sports nutrition and supplementation.

Contact:

E-mail: john.owen.osborne@uit.no

Work phone: +4777645827

Link to employee page (John Owen Osborne)

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Øyvind SandbakkProfessor

Øyvind Sandbakk  –  Professor

NTNU
https://www.ntnu.edu/employees/oyvind.sandbakk

Contact:

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Bente MorsethProfessor

Bente Morseth  –  Professor

Research interests:

• Physical activity and public health, population studies
• Physical activity epidemiology
• Physical activity and cardiovascular disease
• Physical activity and osteoporosis
• Sensor technology in physical activity

• Female endurance athletes

Involved in projects such as 

• NEXAF
• FENDURA
• The Tromsø Study
• Fit Futures
• SAMINOR

Served on various research committees, including the Reference Group for New National Guidelines for Physical Activity at Helsedirektoratet.

Contact:

E-mail: bente.morseth@uit.no

Work phone: +4777660769

Private phone: +47 40 23 95 85

Link to employee page (Bente Morseth)

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Boye WeldeAssociate Professor

Boye Welde  –  Associate Professor

Research interests:

Strength and conditioning training, muscle physiology, respiratory physiology, physical activity and health.

Contact:

E-mail: boye.welde@uit.no

Work phone: +4777625260

Private phone: 99357696

Link to employee page (Boye Welde)

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Collaborations and Partnerships

Lead Institution and Funders

Collaborative Tertiary Institutions

Collaborative Medical Institutions

Sporting Organisations

Please contact the Project Leader, Dr. John Owen Osborne, for more information on upcoming FENDURA studies and/or research dissemination.