There has been a significant increase in female athletic injuries over the past three decades and mounting evidence that there are distinct differences in the types, prevalence, and causes of sport injuries that men and women suffer. Much of this growth can be traced back to the implementation of Title IX, a law requiring federally funded schools to provide equal athletic opportunities to male and female students, which has led to a dramatic rise in the number of women participating in intercollegiate athletics. Brigham and Women’s Hospital responded to this developing need by creating the Women and Sports Medicine Program – to care for female athletes of varying activity levels and ages.
Exploring Differences
Gender-based injury disparities can be traced to a variety of anatomical and physiological differences, such as body structure and a woman’s production of estrogen. The Women and Sports Medicine Program focuses on these differences to help them effectively treat and prevent female sports injuries.
An important area of women’s sports injuries research is the Female Athlete Triad, three interrelated female health issues – low energy availability, altered menstruation, and osteoporosis. Low energy availability is caused by the tendency of female athletes to intake less calories than what would be desirable for their level of activity (sometimes exacerbated by or leading to eating disorders). This lack of energy availability can lead to a suppressed menstrual cycle and/or osteoporosis. The significance of the Triad is that it begins with an issue that can be controlled – energy intake. However, it is believed that the reasons for disparities go far beyond the Triad. Differences in hip and knee structure and function, as well as hormonal differences, are thought to increase the likelihood of certain injuries.
Physiatry
The Women and Sports Medicine Program is lead by staff physiatrist Jennifer Baima, MD. A physiatrist is a physician who uses non-surgical methodologies to diagnose and treat pain and restore physical function. Dr. Baima’s understanding of the Triad and other female health issues enables her to effectively help women with a variety of non-operative sports injuries, such as:
- Ankle sprain
- Knee sprain
- Muscle strain
- Tendinopathy
- Stress fracture
Dr. Baima’s diagnosis and treatment is supported by the multidisciplinary approach of the Fish Center for Women’s Health, which provides her patients with expertise from endocrinology, nutrition, radiology, and other specialists who have been specifically trained in treating women’s health conditions.
Contact Us
To schedule an appointment, or learn more about the Fish Center for Women’s Health, please contact our Physician Referral Service at 1-800-BWH-9999, use our online Request an Appointment Form or contact the Center directly at (617) 732-9300. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 5pm. We are located at 850 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
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