Archive for female athletes
Keeping sports fun: Preventing burnout in young athletes
It’s easy to tell when a kid loves sports: Maybe they practice drills in the driveway until it’s dark and cold. Or they wake up excited on practice days and talk about practice at dinner. Even kids who keep their feelings under wraps may let their enthusiasm show in their laser focus. When the whistle ... Read More
When your athlete has a bad day: Tips for parents
No matter how hard they work, every athlete has bad days. Whether it’s a stumble, fumble, or outright loss, disappointment is a reality of sports. “No one likes the feeling of failing,” says Kelsey Griffith, mental skills specialist at The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention. “But experiencing those emotions is part of the athletic ... Read More
Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S): When athletes run on empty
The strength, skill, and speed of Olympic athletes help the rest of us understand human potential in a new light. But athletic glory can come at a high price. The quest to be the best can drive some athletes into punishing training routines, denying themselves of food and other basic needs. Whether training for the ... Read More
Athletes and fatigue: Why am I so tired?
Working out can boost physical and mental energy. Yet as athletes return to play after a very strange year, some may feel more fatigued than energized. “Feeling tired after a tough workout or bad night’s sleep is normal and temporary,” says Nicole Farnsworth, clinical nutrition specialist in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital. ... Read More
Study links urinary incontinence in female athletes to low energy availability
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common experience for female athletes that can significantly impact their enjoyment of and participation in sports. Previous studies have shown that female athletes who experience urinary incontinence are more likely to drop out of their sports. Noting a large number of female athletes presenting with urinary incontinence, physicians in the ... Read More
When athletes push too hard: How to screen and when to refer
With the rise in the number and competitiveness of female athletes, overtraining has become a serious health risk for many young women. Whether it comes from a coach, parent, teammate, or the athlete herself, the pressure to perform drives many young athletes to practice unsafe behaviors in an effort to boost performance. Instead of building ... Read More
Nurturing strength: Tips for parents of female athletes
The drive to succeed can push female athletes to excel at any cost. Female athlete specialist, Dr. Bridget Quinn, talks about what parents and athletes can do to nurture strong bodies and healthy attitudes that will serve the athletes well now and in the future. What pressures are female athletes under? Today’s young athletes are ... Read More
Knowledge is empowerment: The 2019 Female Athlete Conference
School was out for the summer at Babson College, but on June 4, Sorenson Auditorium was filled with over 400 people as Dr. Kathryn Ackerman kicked off the fourth biennial Female Athlete Conference. The one-of-a-kind conference, hosted by the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, drew attendees from as close as Boston and as ... Read More
Vegan diets for adolescent athletes: A sports dietitian’s perspective
Vegan diets are a hit on social media, but is a 100 percent plant-based diet a good idea for athletes? A sports nutritionist looks at the pros and cons.
How to prevent ACL injuries in female athletes
An ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear is a devastating injury that can end an athlete’s season and sometimes take up to a year to fully recover. Along with the pain and long rehab process, it also carries the consequences of a high rate of re-tear and increased risk for osteoarthritis. But what if you could ... Read More