Are female athletes different?
Certain physiological and sociological factors differentiate the female athlete. The sociological differences are based on generations of attitudes in society that create conflicting images for the young female. Although sports have become more accepted for girls, the media continues to bombard young women with the perception that they also need to maintain a super model figure and a certain feminine image. These conflicting signals create significant stress for some females, causing eating disorders and along with certain physiological female traits can combine to create a serious disorder called the female triad. Physiologically, the female athlete has to deal with menstruation and hormonal balance. Stress, diet ,overtraining and other factors can alter the normal menstrual cycle and hormonal balance, which can then affect the musculoskeletal system.
