Musculoskeletal injuries have their fair share of rehabilitation and return-to-play research guiding practitioners in football. Safe, practical procedures and standards are important for player health and safety, as well as the business side of the game. The growing need for a similar process for postpartum athletes in women’s football is garnering increased attention. The deficit…
The physiological requirements of women’s football (soccer) have increased in recent years, reinforcing the importance of recovery for physical performance and restoring homeostasis. [1] The increased physical demands of the women’s game are evident in greater competition demands and higher physical output in games, as well as greater fixture congestion and more games each year.…
What is RED-S, and why is it still so commonly misunderstood? (Pippa Woolven) RED-S occurs when an athlete doesn’t consume enough energy to meet both the demands of training and their body’s basic functions. This energy shortfall can be intentional (e.g. disordered eating) or unintentional—often caused by high training loads, insufficient recovery, or simply underestimating…
One of the major responsibilities of sport scientists is ensuring players receive an appropriate workload throughout a training week to best prepare them for match demands as well as reduce their risk of injury. There are different approaches to determine the optimal workload over the course of a training week. Should we set workload goals…
What were the primary goals for incorporating blood flow restriction training into the USA Rugby Women’s 7’s recovery and rehab protocols during the Paris Olympic Games? The primary goals were to enhance muscle strength and size, improve circulation and vascularity, and increase muscle endurance. The way we targeted these goals varied across our player group,…
What are some of the recommendations you have seen or heard when it comes to menstrual cycle phase-based training? Ovarian hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. At the beginning of the cycle, estradiol and progesterone are low. Estradiol increases throughout the follicular phase and peaks prior to ovulation. Ovulation is characterized by a spike in…