Health and Safety of Female Wrestlers

Female wrestling is on the rise, and with that comes a host of challenges in maintaining the health and safety of these athletes. Today's guests are Kira Blum and Dr. Lisa Woodroffe of the University of Iowa Athletics Department, who bring their expertise and experience to this important conversation.

The episode is centered around the article "Contemporary Issue: Health and Safety of Female Wrestlers," recently published in ACSM's Current Sports Medicine Reports, covering:

1. The current state of women's wrestling, including the increasing number of states sanctioning girls' high school wrestling and the collegiate-level programs available in the United States.
2. The protocols for determining Minimum Wrestling Weight (MWW), with a focus on the rationale for setting the limit at 12% body fat.
3. An exploration of the limitations associated with current body fat assessment methods.
4. Key points and questions raised in the article, offering a comprehensive view of the challenges and considerations in ensuring the health and safety of female wrestlers.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or sports enthusiast, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of women's wrestling and the essential measures needed to protect and support female athletes in this sport. Tune in to understand the intricacies of wrestling weight protocols, the importance of proper nutrition, and the role of safe practices in promoting a healthy sports environment for female wrestlers.

 

Guests: Kira Blum, RDN, LC, Director of Sports Nutrition, University of Iowa Athletics Department, and Lisa Woodroffe, M.D., CAQSM, team physician, University of Iowa Athletics Department

Read the related blog post: Safer Weight Certification for Female Wrestlers by Andrew Jagim, Ph.D.