Celebrating Women’s History Month and Sports
In the United States, March commemorates Women’s History Month. Institutions such as the U.S. Library of Congress, The National Archives, and the National Endowment for the Humanities promote the acknowledgement and appreciation of the numerous contributions made by women to American history.
March is also a significant month for sports in the U.S. and around the world, featuring prominent college basketball tournaments, pre-summer tennis competitions, and Europa League and Champions League knockout phases.
Women in Healthcare and Sports Medicine
On National Women Physicians Day and International Women’s Day, the influence of the growing number of women joining the healthcare workforce on the sector’s diversity initiatives and patient outcomes was examined. For Women’s History Month, the focus shifts to the impact women are having in the realm of sports medicine.
Transforming the Discipline
As more women enter the medical field, which has been predominantly male, the landscape of sports medicine for both male and female athletes is evolving. This change has not only influenced mentorship and representation in sports medicine, but according to Susan Joy, MD, co-director of the Kaiser Permanente Sports Medicine Center, it has also led to women being excluded from sports medicine research.
Distinct movement patterns and muscle activation result in different types of injuries and varying treatment approaches for men and women, even for similar injuries. Joy contends that the increased presence of female doctors in sports medicine signifies more than just representation. It entails a more profound comprehension of the injuries women are more susceptible to and a heightened interest in investigating those injuries and treatment strategies, ultimately promoting healthier athletes.
An article from Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s medical school, highlights the growth of female athletes since Title IX was enacted in 1972. Between 1971 and 2018, women’s representation among high school athletes increased from a mere 7 percent to 43 percent. Likewise, the proportion of female athletes in the Olympics has doubled since the 1984 Summer Games.
The Need for a Gender-Sensitive Approach
Eileen Crawford, MD, an assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the University of Michigan’s sports medicine program, supports Joy’s assertion that the distinct injuries faced by women necessitate a greater number of women in sports medicine, stating that “one size fits all medicine isn’t enough.”
Beyond Athletics
Title IX established equal opportunities for women in sports. With the rise of female athletes, there is now a growing demand for equality and fairness in terms of exposure and remuneration.
Nonetheless, as more women engage in sports, they are also being exposed to sports medicine from a young age. Regrettably, through this exposure, female athletes are more prone to experience gender bias, which may include skepticism regarding the severity of injuries, improper injury treatment, and even sexual harassment. The unconscious biases prevalent across all medical fields have been a driving force behind the push for diversity in healthcare. Sports medicine is no exception.
As more women enter the field of sports medicine, they not only benefit female athletes but also, as Leena Patel, DO, associate director for Kaiser Permanente points out, create additional mentors who inspire women to pursue the profession. To learn more about gender bias in sports medicine