• LAGRANGE (845) 475-8769
  • FISHKILL (845) 478-5922
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
  • Blog
  • Podcasts
fptap-logo-cmyk-300fptap-logo-cmyk-040816fptap-logo-cmyk-300fptap-logo-cmyk-300
  • Conditions
    • By Body Part
      • Ankle
      • Back
      • Elbow
      • Foot
      • Hand
      • Head, Vestibular & Concussion
      • Hip
      • Knee
      • Leg
      • Lower Back
      • Mid Back
      • Neck
      • Shoulder
    • By Sport
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Cycling
      • Field Hockey
      • Fitness
      • Football
      • Golf
      • Hockey
      • Motorsports
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Swimming
      • Triathlon
      • Tennis
      • Volleyball
  • Services
    • Orthopedic Rehabilitation
    • Vestibular & Concussion Rehabilitation
    • Running Injury Clinic
    • Center for ACL Recovery
    • Digital Health Care
    • Blood Flow Restriction
    • Functional Movement Screening
    • Performance Coaching
    • Prenatal & Postpartum Rehabilitation
    • Corporate & Small Business Wellness
  • For Patients
    • First Visit
    • Recommended Equipment
    • Rates & Insurance
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Meet the Staff
    • What Our Patients Say
    • Our Philosophy
    • Video Gallery
    • News/Events
    • Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Supporting the Community
    • Contact Us
    • Locations
  • Running Injury Clinic
  • Conditions
    • By Body Part
      • Ankle
      • Back
      • Elbow
      • Foot
      • Hand
      • Head, Vestibular & Concussion
      • Hip
      • Knee
      • Leg
      • Lower Back
      • Mid Back
      • Neck
      • Shoulder
    • By Sport
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Cycling
      • Field Hockey
      • Fitness
      • Football
      • Golf
      • Hockey
      • Motorsports
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Swimming
      • Triathlon
      • Tennis
      • Volleyball
  • Services
    • Orthopedic Rehabilitation
    • Vestibular & Concussion Rehabilitation
    • Running Injury Clinic
    • Center for ACL Recovery
    • Digital Health Care
    • Blood Flow Restriction
    • Functional Movement Screening
    • Performance Coaching
    • Prenatal & Postpartum Rehabilitation
    • Corporate & Small Business Wellness
  • For Patients
    • First Visit
    • Recommended Equipment
    • Rates & Insurance
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Meet the Staff
    • What Our Patients Say
    • Our Philosophy
    • Video Gallery
    • News/Events
    • Blog
    • Podcasts
    • Supporting the Community
    • Contact Us
    • Locations
  • Running Injury Clinic
  • HOME
  • CONDITIONS
  • SERVICES
  • FOR PATIENTS
  • WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY
  • ABOUT US
  • LOCATIONS
  • SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT
SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT
✕
Physical Therapy Weight Training
3 Heavy Lifting Moves for a Strong Back
April 2, 2022
Physical Therapy Female Athletes
Should women train the same as men?
April 16, 2022
Published by Ashley Witson on April 9, 2022
Categories
  • Blog
Tags
  • athletes
  • exercise
  • Feldman Physical Therapy
  • female
  • female athlete
  • Fitness
  • health
  • injury
  • Injury Prevention
  • Performance
  • Strength Training
  • wellness
Physical Therapy Female Athletes

THIS ONE’S FOR THE WOMEN!

It’s not our body’s fault

 

Although this may not come out in the month of March, I wanted to take a moment to recognize Women’s History Month! Cheers to all of my fellow ladies out there!

Fun fact:  Did you know that 1900 was the first year female athletes participated in the Olympic Games? That year, 22 female athletes competed in sports such as tennis, equestrian, and croquet! During the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo,  almost half of the athletes (~5,400 individuals) were women! 

Each year, the number of female athletes participating in sports increases. Unfortunately, that also means the number of sports-related injuries increases amongst female athletes. The most common injuries experienced by female athletes include ankle sprains, shoulder tendinitis & instability, knee injuries (ACL tears, patellofemoral pain syndrome), and stress fractures. How many of these have you had? I can cross every-single-one off of my list.  How about you?

It’s unfortunate that in 2022 with all of the knowledge we have about creating resilient female athletes, women are still more likely to have sports-related injuries than their male counterparts. But, why is that? 

Is it the way that our bodies are made? Do our hormones cause too much laxity? Is it that we’re not as strong or as capable as men?

Nope, nope and nope.

It’s not our anatomy or Q-angle that puts us at risk. It’s not estrogen, progesterone, and relaxin. It’s not our mindset or muscle make-up. In fact, it’s much more complicated than that.

May some of these things affect the way our bodies function, absolutely. However, based on research we cannot say that there is a direct correlation between female anatomy, cyclical hormone fluctuations, and injury. These are all still very much in question.  In fact, one thing known to be true is loss of normalized cyclical hormone fluctuations or loss of menses does increase an athlete’s injury risk. So, when estrogen is not cycling regularly causing an increase in things such as collagen and elastin, females are actually more likely to get injured. Think about that!

Instead of blaming the way our bodies are made or our natural cycle of hormones, we have to look elsewhere! Ultimately, we need to think about strength training, neuromuscular coordination, body awareness, and motor skill development. 

Preconceived notions about the female body and strength need to change. Women should feel empowered to enter a weight room or gym. In fact, it has been shown that early strength, jump and deceleration training can significantly decrease a female athlete’s injury rate throughout her lifespan. Bodyweight and high rep training are not enough. Is that what our male counterparts do when training for sport?

So, what if instead of believing our bodies are to blame, we start treating them differently.  We can no longer blame body structure, hormones, or any of the gamut of things we have been told cause injury. Instead, let’s start focusing on empowering females and teaching them how to enter a weight room. Let’s emphasize the importance of early strength training in the development of the female athlete. Oh, and let’s not forget to chat about periods too.

We are remarkable creatures with exemplary talents. We can achieve whatever we put our minds to. Let’s start doing that to help us stay healthy and injury-free over time.

So, in 2022, I hope you learn to lift weights and get comfortable doing the uncomfortable. In fact, I would love to see you video yourself doing something new! So, if you’ve learned a new lift or challenged yourself in a new way, shoot us a message! We always love to hear about it.

Here’s to healthy female athletes.

Cheers!

Dr. Ashley

 

Share
0
Ashley Witson
Ashley Witson

Related posts

Physical Therapy Knee
March 12, 2023

Do I Need a Knee Brace?


Read more
Physical therapy
March 2, 2023

Cheers To 10 Amazing Years


Read more
Physical Therapy
February 19, 2023

Our Plans and Goals for 2023


Read more

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All treatment at Feldman Physical Therapy and Performance is provided by Doctors of Physical Therapy. Because of this, you DO NOT need a physician’s prescription to attend physical therapy. Your therapist is well trained in recognizing conditions that are not appropriate for physical therapy, and, if necessary, will refer you to the proper specialist for treatment.

LINKS

  • HOME
  • CONDITIONS
  • SERVICES
  • FOR PATIENTS
  • WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY
  • ABOUT US
  • LOCATIONS
  • SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT

FISHKILL LOCATION

Gold’s Gym of Fishkill:
982 Main Street
Fishkill, NY 12524
Phone: (845) 478-5922
Fax: (845) 746-2298

LAGRANGE LOCATION

Gold’s Gym of Lagrange:
258 Titusville Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Phone: (845) 475-8769
Fax: (845) 746-2298

© 2020 Feldman Physical Therapy and Performance. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy
    SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT
    • Contact Us
    • Locations
    • Blog
    • Podcasts
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Youtube
      • Linkedin
      • Instagram
      • Blog
      • Podcasts