The world of women’s sports is experiencing unprecedented growth, attention, recognition, and investment. Elite athletes including Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Serena Williams, and many others are having a significant impact on culture, and more women than ever are participating in both professional and recreational sports. Earlier this year, Russ sat down with Dr. Emily Kraus to talk about the future of female athletic health and we’re re-running the episode today. She shared a number of key differences between women and men in sport, and illuminates that these differences are vastly understudied, though she’s working to close that gap. This is an episode we shared with a number of athletes we know, and we hope you’ll do the same.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces Dr. Emily Kraus, professor of orthopedics at Stanford University.
(00:01:55) Injury Trends in Female Athletes
Prevalent injuries and health issues unique to female athletes.
(00:03:34) Menstrual Health in Young Athletes
How training affects puberty, periods, and long-term health.
(00:06:30) Body Image & Mental Health
Navigating body composition, stigma, and disordered eating.
(00:08:30) Competing Through Motherhood
Postpartum athletes and the need for more scientific support.
(00:11:34) Sharing vs. Guarding Performance Data
Whether female athletes are sharing information or staying competitive.
(00:12:25) Fueling, Recovery & Modern Training
Nutrition, rest, and strength training as key performance tools.
(00:15:31) Gender-Based Nutrition Differences
How under-researched female athletes are fueling without guidance.
(00:18:55) The Female Athlete Voice Project
What elite athletes want researched—and what’s missing.
(00:21:21) FASTR & the Science of RED-S
New initiatives addressing energy deficiency and performance.
(00:24:05) Applying Elite Insights to All Women
How weekend warriors can benefit from elite research.
(00:25:11) Cultural Challenges in Sport
Sexism, inequity, and overlooked institutional barriers.
(00:27:03) Getting the Word Out
Finding ways to educate athletes, coaches, and clinicians more effectively.
(00:29:37) Conclusion
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