The Female Athlete

Continued...

Luckily, most discomfort can be minimized by an appropriate athletic bra. Men have had jock straps for years, but it wasn't until the 1970s that bras were designed for active women.

For A to C cup sizes, compressive bras are helpful; for C to D+ cup sizes, encapsulating bras work better. Athletic bras work by reducing upward breast motion and thereby reducing the downward slapping motion.

All bras should be tried on and judged comfortable by the individual. Your client should try jogging or doing some aerobic dance maneuvers in the fitting room. Bras should be made of absorbent material and have nonelastic, wide straps and covered or nonmetallic parts. Very large breasted women may need two bras~a compressive bra worn over an encapsulating bra.

Exercise Equipment for Women

Manufacturers have finally taken note of the differences in women's bodies. Recently, bicycles, running shorts, backpacks and bicycle seats have all been designed to better fit the proportions of the average woman's body. Check your equipment for proper fit before buying it, and find out if it was designed specifically for a woman's body.

One of the primary pieces of equipment that has been improved is the shoe. Manufacturers now make a shoe based on the size and shape of a woman's foot, instead of merely making a man's shoe in a smaller size. On average a woman's foot is narrower and thinner than a man's. Although women's feet vary a great deal in size and shape, women often have a wider forefoot and narrower heel than men do.

A woman's shoe should be appropriate to the type of exercise she does.

The next page deals with the special nutritional needs of 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