… Her training, which included a 25-mile run within the past week, was going well, until she felt pain in the same spot. A scan revealed a second fracture, forcing her to withdraw from Chicago.
Hasay, who turns 27 on September 21, spoke to Runner’s World about the seriousness of the latest injury, the cross-training regimen that keeps her fit, and how she has been coping with the psychological effects of the first injuries of her long career.
… “Deena [Kastor] pulled me aside and said, ‘This is the difference between anything in marathon training. This rep is marathon training. Just get it in,’” Pappas recalled of her conversation with the American women’s record-holder in the marathon.
“She said, ‘You can do this, but this is where you get all the gains. It’s [the interval] in there and you’re going to create it by doing it.’”
… The Seattle Reign player began her relationship with the Barca Academy Pro NY late last spring, when she became an ambassador and advisor for entrance trials for girl players, as well as playing an active role on both the Girls ID Clinic and at a camp held on school premises last July.
The current observational study quantified players’ activity profiles during a major international female field hockey tournament and determined whether an association exists between well-being measures and running performance within elite female hockey players. Elite female field hockey players (23 ± 3 years; 162.6 ± 13 cm; and 66 ± 6 kg) participated in the study. Participants running performance was monitored using global positioning system technology (S5; Catapult Innovations, Scoresby, Victoria, Australia), with daily well-being questionnaires used to quantify player responses during the tournament. Thresholds for the magnitude of the observed change for each variable were determined using the Hopkins Spreadsheets for analysis of controlled trials. Relative distance (m·min) was likely lower when compared with game 1 in game 7. Relative high speed (m·min >16 km·h) was likely lower in games 5, 6, and 7 when compared with game 1. Subjective load was very likely higher in game 2 and very likely lower in game 3 when compared with game 1. Mood and sleep quality were likely lower in game 1 when compared with game 4 and game 7. Muscle soreness was likely higher when compared with game 1 in game 7. During the tournament, it was observed that a decrease in players’ daily well-being was accompanied by changes in running performance. Furthermore, changes to players’ muscle soreness and sleep quality result in decreased players’ high-speed running performance during match-play. Therefore, to prevent the observed effects, coaches should adopt strategies to enhance sleep quality and incorporate specific recovery modalities to reduce musculoskeletal soreness.
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy journal from
PURPOSE:
To analyse the relationship between several parameters of neuromuscular performance with unilateral dynamic balance measured through the Y-Balance test, as well as to determine the possible sex-related differences. METHODS:
The Y-Balance test, isokinetic (concentric and eccentric) knee flexion and extension strength, isometric hip abduction and adduction strength, lower extremity joint range of motion (ROM) (hip, knee and ankle) and core stability were assessed in male (n = 88) and female (n = 44) professional football players. A stepwise multivariate linear least square regression with backward elimination analysis was carried out to identify a group of factors that were independently associated with balance performance in both sexes. RESULTS:
Passive hip flexion and ankle dorsiflexion with knee flexed ROM were the main factors that retained a significant association to dominant (R2 = 23.1) and non-dominant (R2 = 33.5) balance scores for males. For females, core stability, hip abduction isometric peak torque, passive hip abduction and ankle dorsiflexion with knee flexed ROM variables retained a significant association with balance scores for both, dominant (R2 = 38.2) and non-dominant (R2 = 46.9) legs. CONCLUSIONS:
Training interventions aimed at improving or maintaining unilateral dynamic balance in male football players should include, among other things, stretching exercises for the posterior chain of the lower extremity. However, females should also include exercises for strength and mobility of the hip abductors and core stability (especially in the frontal plane). This knowledge would allow clinicians and sport practitioners to develop more effective and tailored unilateral dynamic balance training interventions in male and female football players, possibly improving performance and reducing the risk of injury.
Let me just preface this article by assuring you that I have warned the people mentioned in this piece about the possibility of being the butt of my jokes. Everyone has agreed that as long as I pull a “yoga pants,” they are okay with it. Get it? All of us basic girls wear yoga pants to make our butts look GOOOOD. (My long back certainly appreciates the little boost yoga pants provide.) So I’ll do my best to highlight their assets and keep the jokes clean. I will be the supportive boost yoga pants provide. See… case in point. My jokes are too often the punny-not-so-funny, dad-joke type that may require explanations. Consequently, any residual hope of providing a laugh is long gone. Now that we have that cleared up, I’m sure most of you have stopped reading. But for those curious few who wanna see this babbling turn to something worthwhile, muchas gracias.
There’s this dinner-convo topic that never ceases to come up, without fail. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I see my inquisitive family. (Remember, I’ve mentioned how much I love them and their support.) After five seasons, they still seem bewildered by my professional soccer lifestyle. They appreciate that I spend many hours at the complex training, reviewing film, lifting, running, etc. They understand the importance of recovery and adequate sleep in order to perform each week. However, the ever-present question remains: What the heck do you do with all your free time?
It’s no secret that American women are crushing it right now in pro running. Take Desiree Linden, Shalane Flanagan, Molly Huddle, and Jordan Hasay. But when you look at their coaches, you might notice a trend: They’re all men.
It’s a small sample size, but it reflects the larger demographics of track and field. Nearly all the coaches of the best U.S. runners are male. It’s not an issue that’s often discussed, but the pattern has prompted some curiosity about why more women aren’t taking coaching positions—and how the culture and dynamics in the sport might shift if they did.
Men and women joining the military undergo the same training, often in mixed-sex platoons. Given the inherent physiological and physical performance differences between men and women, it is reasonable to question whether sex differences exist in the adaptation to military training and, therefore, whether sex-specific training should be employed to optimise training adaptations. Objective
To systematically review the literature evaluating changes in the physical performance of men and women following military training. Methods
Six database sources were searched in addition to extensive secondary searching. Primary prospective intervention studies (all designs) evaluating physical training interventions in military populations, reporting pre- to post-training changes in physical fitness outcomes for both women and men, were included. Results
We screened 3966 unique records. Twenty-nine studies (n = 37 study reports) were included, most of which were conducted in the USA and evaluated initial training for military recruits. Positive changes were more consistently observed in aerobic fitness and muscle strength (whole body and upper body) outcomes than lower body strength, muscle power or muscle endurance outcomes, following physical training. Relative pre- to post-training changes for all outcome measures tended to be greater in women than men although few statistically significant sex by outcome/time interactions were observed. Conclusion
Improvements in some, but not all, performance components were observed following a period of military training. Largely, these improvements were not significantly different between sexes. Further prospective research is needed to evaluate sex-specific differences in the response to physical training in controlled conditions to improve military physical training outcomes for both sexes.
The staff of the world’s top-ranked Women’s National Team are not resting on their laurels.
As the U.S. Women’s National Team continues preparation for October’s 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, which will serve as the World Cup qualifying tournament, the players will do so with the support of a newly-created, dedicated High Performance support team that consists of full-time experts in the fields of sports medicine, sports science and performance analysis to assist players and coaches on a year-round basis.
“One of the High Performance departments objectives is to link the multi-disciplinary teams together more cohesively, so there is more integration of knowledge, of data and of operation,” says James Bunce, Director the High Performance department. “My role is to bring these hugely integral technical and skilled areas together to optimize every area of player health, performance, psychology, conditioning and analysis of team tactical principles to make sure that every player – when they step on that pitch – not only is healthy and fit, but also prepared to win at the highest level.”
Los Angeles, CA October 4, starting at 7 p.m., University of Southern California. “A discussion of the career opportunities and challenges of being a woman working at the intersection of sports and technology.” [$$]
Cecilia Aragon is the first Latina to be made a full professor at the University of Washington’s College of Engineering. The school is over 100 years old. Aragon tells KUOW’s Kim Malcolm how she made it — and how she’s helping the next generation of women of color go into science and math. Press play (above right) to hear their conversation. [audio, 4:00]
… Goriss has tapped into the AIS-based NBA global academy’s video system to be able to watch training sessions.
The NBA invested in a camera system at the Canberra AIS campus, which allows coaches to login and monitor training sessions and give instant feedback when they’re not there.
The Capitals will play two trial matches against Japanese side Aisin AW Wings next week before Goriss returns a week before the first game.
To evaluate the diagnostic validity of the Kerlan-Jobe orthopedic clinic shoulder and elbow score (KJOC) and the Closed kinetic upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST) to assess functional impairments associated with shoulder injury in overhead female athletic populations. Design
Cross-sectional design. Methods
Thirty-four synchronized swimming and team handball female athletes completed the KJOC and the CKCUEST during their respective team selection trials. Unsupervised learning using k-means algorithm was used on collected data to perform group clustering and classify athletes as Injured or Not Injured. Odds ratios, likelihood ratios, sensitivity and specificity were computed based on the self-reported presence of shoulder injury at the time of testing or during the previous year. Results
Seven of the 34 athletes were injured or had suffered a time-loss injury in the previous year, representing a 20.5% prevalence rate. Clustering method using KJOC data resulted in a sensitivity of 86%, a specificity of 100% and a 229.67 diagnostic odds ratio. Clustering method using CKCUEST data resulted in a sensitivity of 86%, a specificity of 37% and a 3.53 diagnostic odds ratio. Conclusions
KJOC had good diagnostic validity to assess shoulder function and differentiate between injured and non-injured elite synchronized swimming and team handball female athletes. The CKCUEST seemed to be a poor screening test but may be an interesting test to evaluate functional upper extremity strength and plyometric capacity. Unsupervised learning methods allow to make decisions based on numerous variables which is an advantage when considering the usually substantial overlap in screening test scores between high- and low-risk athletes.
An injury prevention program tailored to children’s soccer is not only more effective than typical warmups and stretches at keeping players safe, it’s also associated with lower healthcare costs, a Swiss study suggests.
Researchers studied soccer teams for kids under age 9 and under age 13 over a season in Switzerland. The teams were randomly chosen to do their usual warm-ups or to warm up with the “11+ Kids” injury prevention program, which includes 15 minutes of exercises focused on dynamic stability, power, core strength, and falling techniques.
Women who go heavy on the makeup may want to consider going for a more natural look. A new study finds that chemicals found in many beauty products are linked to changes in hormones.
Researchers from George Mason University urge women to consider the harm that can be caused by exposure to chemicals from cosmetics. Hormonal changes, they warn, can lead to serious conditions, including breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
… Though the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx didn’t make the WNBA Finals, they still met in the postseason for the fourth straight year (the Sparks beat the Lynx in the first round). Los Angeles and Minnesota should bounce back next season; they’ll be surrounded by several up-and-comers in pursuit of league supremacy.
Before offseason moves are made, let’s look at the biggest questions around the WNBA.
Research has shown that women with large breasts experience increased breast motion, which can act as a barrier to participating in physical activity. Despite this evidence, limited research has investigated the effect of breast size on physical activity participation. Design
Cross-sectional study. Methods
355 Australian women (aged 18–75 years) who volunteered as participants were divided into four breast size groups (small, medium, large and hypertrophic). All participants completed the Active Australia Survey to assess their participation in physical activity in the previous week, and were asked to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed that their breast size affected their participation in physical activity. Participant responses to time spent in each type of activity were compared across the four breast size groups using an ANCOVA design, controlling for age. Results
Participants with hypertrophic breasts participated in significantly less total physical activity per week, particularly less vigorous-intensity physical activity, compared to their counterparts with smaller breasts. Participants with large breasts also participated in less vigorous-intensity physical activity compared to participants with small and with medium breasts, and a high percentage of women with large and with hypertrophic breasts perceived their breast size to affect the amount and intensity of physical activity they performed. Conclusions
Breast size should be acknowledged as a potential barrier to women participating in physical activity. Strategies to assist women with large and hypertrophic breasts participate in all types and intensities of physical activity are needed so women can enjoy the health benefits associated with an active lifestyle.
… Tennis great Billie Jean King wrote on Twitter: “When a woman is emotional, she’s “hysterical” and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s “outspoken” and there are no repercussions. Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”
Yet Australian Margaret Court, whose tally of Grand Slam singles titles is being chased by Williams, had little sympathy for the 36-year-old American former world number one.
Wednesday was a historic occasion for Juventus Women. Everyone knows the men’s team have been synonymous with success in Europe over the years and that’s certainly what the women are trying to build as well after we began our Champions League campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Danish champions, Brondby.
This is the first time Juventus have been in this competition and we are not seeded, so that meant we could have been drawn against anyone including the reigning champions, Lyon, or Wolfsburg. At this stage you want to feel confident you can at least compete so Brondby was a good draw in that sense.
Because the Women’s Champions League doesn’t have group stages, there is a lot of pressure on the draw to be favourable
But that didn’t stop hard-driving Dallas Wings guard Skylar Diggins-Smith. Talking about the wage gap between the WNBA and NBA, she brought Cuban into the conversation. “I haven’t seen Mark Cuban at a game,” Diggins-Smith told Wealthsimple magazine. “And I’m sure I wouldn’t miss him.”
In some circles, the comment was called a cheap shot. Why single out the NBA’s most visible owner when he hasn’t wronged the WNBA in any way? Cuban saw it differently. He tweeted, “I’m ok with @SkyDigg4’s approach. Sometimes you have to get loud to go forward.”
