I can only imagine how devastating that would have been for me because participating on sports teams was such an important part of my life. It's exciting to think that we can make athletics safer for women. Current equipment and training techniques do little to recognize these gender-specific differences, Matsen explained. Observations so far indicate that women are particularly susceptible to ACL tears. These injuries can prevent continued participation and can lead to arthritis of the knee years down the line.
Women also appear particularly susceptible to stress fractures and anterior knee pain.
This program will not only conduct basic and clinical research, but will also be dedicated to the education of active women, parents, coaches, and the public. Recruitment is under way for the first holder of the Endowed Chair for Women's Sports Medicine and Lifetime Fitness. The individual selected for the position will lead the way in creating a center for Women's Sports Medicine, a regional program that would be based in the Department of Orthopaedics. An example of the need for education lies in the fact that the quality of bone throughout a woman's lifetime is determined in large part by diet and exercise levels when she was a child and adolescent, Matsen explained. Thus, active play and a good diet as a child can provide protection from osteoporosis as an adult.