The Female Athlete

Continued...

Let's dispel some myths. First, we know that exercise is good for women. Women gain the same health benefits from exercise as men, plus some added benefits in the areas of cancer prevention and alleviation of premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps. And there is plenty of evidence that women can train and compete in any event without incurring serious injury.

There are exercise benefits for both men and women, but some are unique to women. Encouraging your female clients to maintain a regular exercise schedule may help them ward off medical problems such as osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), cancer, heart disease, obesity and depression.

Exercise helps women maintain cardiovascular fitness, weight control, muscle strength, bone density, flexibility, coordination, stress management and energy level. Regular exercisers report enhanced relaxation and improvements in mood and alertness. As fitness professionals, you can emphasize these benefits - plus the fun of group exercise and the satisfaction of meeting goals.

There is no evidence that exercise in general or aerobics in particular can cause damage to a woman's reproductive organs. We have had to reassure many young women or their mothers that, "No, your uterus will not fall out if you start jumping up and down!"

As fitness professionals, it is important to dispel the many myths about the harmful effects of exercise for women and to encourage all women to make exercise a regular part of their lives. A recent survey by the Women's Sports Foundation identified that more women than men are active as regular exercisers (22.5 percent vs. 18 percent) and as occasional exercisers (40 percent vs. 34 percent).

Since the majority of adult men and women are still not regular exercisers, it is our mission, should we choose to accept it, to increase the ranks of regular exercisers. When motivating women to stay in shape, it is important to realize that women exercise for different reasons than men.

What are some of the advantages of exercise for women?

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Table of Contents

Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine

General Health
Nutrition
Exercise
Common Medical Problems
Dental Health
Emergency!
Infectious Disease
Sexual Health
Emotional Well-Being
Eating Disorders
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Environmental Health
Prevention