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JOSPT Insights

Ep 144: Helping female athletes perform at their best, with Dr Rachel Harris

Aug 14, 2023
Dr. Rachel Harris, a former Olympic swimmer and Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Paralympic team, discusses vital health literacy issues facing female athletes. She underscores the importance of understanding the menstrual cycle and its effects on performance, advocating for personalized tracking over generic apps. Dr. Harris emphasizes the need for open conversations about menstrual health and the impact of hormonal contraception on athletics. Her insights aim to empower female athletes through education and informed decision-making.
26:00

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • Improving health literacy among female athletes is essential for empowering them and optimizing support from coaches and parents.
  • Recognizing the individual variations of the menstrual cycle can help female athletes tailor their training and enhance their performance.

Deep dives

Understanding Health Literacy for Female Athletes

Health literacy among female athletes is crucial for optimizing their well-being and performance. Many female athletes, their coaches, and support systems lack essential knowledge regarding health topics such as the menstrual cycle, pelvic floor health, and breast health. Research has shown alarming gaps in understanding, with only 14% of elite athletes being able to identify key female hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Improving this collective health literacy is vital, as it not only empowers athletes but also helps coaches and parents provide the necessary support, leading to better overall outcomes in performance.

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