Continued Gap in Sports and Exercise Medicine Research for Women
A need exists to address under-representation of women’s issues.
Female athletes represent approximately 50% of the population but significant gaps remain in knowledge of sports performance, cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health, postpartum physiology and lactation research. An editorial, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (2023; doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001606), highlights the issues and urges action for more research for women. Sports dropout among female adolescents is an issue and more role models are needed. Editors recommend maintaining awareness of negative bias and emphasize encouraging inclusion of females in sports medicine, research, publications and conferences.
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
