Mission Statement
To initiate, nurture and formalize collaborations within the disciplines of clinical medicine, rehabilitation and biomedical research among those actively investigating health, sports injury mechanisms and prevention in the female athlete.
Potential Benefits
The widespread increase in sports participation by girls and women over the last several decades has been associated with an escalation in the number, and often severity, of sports injuries in the female athlete.
Of particular concern is the observation that females may suffer particular injuries more frequently than their male counterparts. Identifying underlying injury mechanisms and specific risk factors for injury will facilitate the future development of more effective screening and prevention strategies.
By exploring gender differences in sports injuries, surgical techniques and rehabilitation can be more appropriately tailored to the unique anatomical, physiological and mechanical demands of the female athlete.
Such advancements can ultimately lead to substantial reductions in the rate of injuries, time lost from sports, risk of long-term sequelae, and financial burden to society while significantly further increasing sports participation and quality of life for female athletes of all ages.
Susan M. Joy, M.D., Director, Women’s Sports Health
Scott McLean, PhD., Research Director, WSHAIRE
For more information, call 216.986.4254.
