Women Easily Get Injured
The debate on the role of gender in the sustenance of injuries has existed for a long time. Most people have argued that injuries are more common to men compared to women. Generally, men are involved in more vigilant activities such as sports, and men’s activities have been more followed compared to women’s activities. For example, men’s sporting activities appear to have a vast following leaving women’s sporting activities with less following; hence, injuries are not popularized. However, women have a higher probability of sustaining injuries if the activities are followed with the same intensity as those of the men. Generally, the argument that men are said to be at a higher risk of sustaining injuries compared to women is based on the fact that men’s activities receive more considerable attention than women’s activities. Women have a higher probability of sustaining injuries compared to men, although uncertainty continues to grow over the cause of the gender gap in terms of injury sustenance.
Men and women engage in activities that vary in nature, leaving out crucial details concerning the rate of injuries on either gender. The nature of women’s activities is founded on the fact that injuries are not taken seriously compared to the activities undertaken by men. Generally, the reporting of injuries becomes popular if it affects the followers of the sport (Bergen, 65). For example, injuries are highly reported in men’s football because followers are concerned with the risk of missing a player in their games. On the other hand, the nature of women’s activities is that injuries are not reporting with the seriousness seen in the men’s activities. Besides, society has been shaped to give less attention to women’s activities; hence, injuries are not taken seriously. Researchers who claim that men receive injuries more frequently compared to men tend to overlook crucial details such as the rate of reporting done concerning the injuries. Also, the researches done have assumed that the comparison should be made on equal grounds even though the number of women engaging in sporting activities is significantly lower than that of men. Moreover, the intensity of injuries on women has been reported to be higher than that of men due to several factors such as estrogen and Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries.
One of the most at-risk body parts is the ACL ligament and generally gets exposed when individuals engage in strenuous activities. The ACL ligament is situated in the legs of the individuals and is required to be strong when an individual is participating in a strenuous exercise (Covassin, Tracey, Moran, and Elbin, 190). Unfortunately, the ACL ligaments tend to be weaker for women due to their higher estrogen levels. Also, the estrogen levels in women vary depending on their menstrual cycle, and their bodies do not adapt easily. Generally, the estrogen levels are high when women are experiencing their menstrual periods; hence, their risk of injury is high. On the other hand, the estrogen levels for men are low throughout since they do not have menstrual cycles. Generally, even if the rates of injury were equal under normal circumstances, women would be chosen for having a higher rate of injuries due to the high rate witnessed during the menstrual periods. Also, the risk of sustaining injuries is similar for men and women before puberty. Men generally do not require additional adaptation towards injuries as women do after attaining the age of puberty. The women’s bodies, in some instances, fail to adapt to the high estrogen levels hence the high rate of injuries. Moreover, the risk of concussion and shoulder injury is higher in women due to the nature of their bodies.
Concussions and shoulder injuries are common among individuals engaging in strenuous. The risk of concussion grows higher depending on the exposure to activities that may involve head injuries. However, women appear to be at a higher risk of sustaining head injuries leading to concussions. Furthermore, women have weaker shoulders that succumb easily to pressure, leading to injury (Ferrara, n. p). Generally, concussions and shoulder injuries depend on the strength of the upper body. Men tend to have a stronger upper body hence do not sustain injuries easily. Also, women recover less easily from concussions and shoulder injuries compared to men. The rate of recovery may expose women to further injuries where care is not taken. Besides, women have weaker rotator cuff and periscapular muscles hence a higher risk of injuries when strenuous activities are involved. Some of the activities that might expose individuals to injuries are sporting activities such as swimming, football, and volleyball since they require shoulder strength. Generally, concussion and shoulder injuries are recurring and pose an additional threat once an individual sustains them. Therefore, women still have a higher risk of sustaining recurring injuries compared to men since the injuries stem from concussions and shoulder injuries. Moreover, knees and feet injuries occur more frequently in women than in men.
Knees and feet are subject to a higher risk of sustaining injuries, especially in sporting activities. However, the risk of injuries for knees and feet varies significantly between men and women. The alignment and strength of an individual’s legs determine how an individual may easily get injured. Women tend to have weaker knees and feet hence a higher risk of getting injured. Generally, the risk to knee and foot injuries amongst women can be explained from the ease of acquiring Miserable Mal-alignment Syndrome (MMS), which may occur in three different aspects. First, the syndrome involves an inward rotation of the knee against the thigh. Also, the knee cup may be pulled out in an unexpected manner as well as an outward rotation of the leg. The risk of developing MMS is worsened by the fact that women’s legs are flat and roll towards the inside in most cases. The rotation may combine with the flat legs to lead to muscle weakness and further pressure on the knees. Also, the pressure on the knee cups may lead to pain on the interior part of the knee, causing a reduced functionality of the individual and a further dislocation of the kneecap as the individual struggles to minimize the pain felt. Moreover, the intensity of training activities for women tends to be lower hence poor body adaptation towards strenuous activities.
The intensity of training activities determines whether an individual is at a high or low risk of getting injured. Women are generally not involved in heavy training as compared to men; hence, their preparedness for strenuous activities is weaker (Jones, Bruce and Hauschild, S57). Training is essential in preparing the body to adapt to the pressure that comes with strenuous activities and individuals who fail to train to increase their chances of getting injured. Most systems believe that women’s activities are less strenuous and fail to have in place, essential training facilities for women to use in their training activities. Also, women receive inefficient training with the notion that the activities ahead of them are lighter, and less effort is required to overcome the challenges associated with the activities. Unfortunately, the unexpected happens, and the ladies are exposed to unexpected pressure, which exposes them to a higher risk of injury. The risk remains higher if training is not taken seriously because the women may quickly be involved in activities that require extra efforts against their expectations. Moreover, the argument by people who believe that men sustain injuries more frequently compared to women may base their arguments on factors that may easily be reputed.
The claim that men are more susceptible to injuries than men is based on baseless facts. Most of the claims come from researchers who have not done sufficient research on the topic before making their claim on the topic. For example, a claim that the reporting on the injuries favors women at the expense of men is common among most researchers. Women are said to report most of their injuries compared to men who prefer fighting on their own to recover from injuries. However, the claim overlooks several details since statistics present a different perspective. For example, reports on concussion injuries are said to be rampant among women who are afraid of the outcomes of the injuries. Men, on the other side, are said to be stronger and failing to report most of the injury cases. However, men are most favored by reporting agencies because most of the agencies tend to benefit from the mass following of men’s activities. Besides, men’s sporting activities are more popular, and the claim that women’s injuries are more popularized may be based on unreliable facts. Generally, the injuries are more among women, and reporting does not play a significant role in affecting the gender gap in terms of injuries. Moreover, biomechanics play a crucial role in increasing the gap between women and men in terms of injuries.
Biomechanics play an essential role in the difference that occurs between the injuries sustained by men and women. The bodies of women are designed in a way that exposes them to a higher risk of getting injured compared to men whose bodies do not easily get injured. Generally, women’s bodies are heavier, and pressure is not exerted uniformly on most of the body parts hence a higher risk of sustaining injuries. For example, women have flexible knees that may expose them to hyperextensions and unnecessary pressure on surrounding muscles. Also, women have weaker muscles on their hips, buttocks, and upper legs, exposing them to further risk of injury whenever they engage in activities that involve jumping. Also, women have hormonal variations that expose them to further risk of getting injured. The association between a higher level of estrogen and ACL injury has been established by most researchers, leaving little doubt on the high risk of injuries for women during their menstrual periods. Therefore, the risk of injuries among women is worsened by biomechanical factors; hence, the debate should always favor the claim that women frequently sustain injuries compared to men. Moreover, the low profile of women’s sporting and other social activities has served to leave a negative impact on the intensity of injuries among women.
The profile of activity is associated with the seriousness of measures employed to address the issue of injuries. Activities associated with women tend to receive a low profile both from stakeholders and fan bases. The level of the profile associated with the activities affects the way injuries are managed or avoided among the participants (Stuelcken et al. 1517). One of the measures that are required in the management of injuries is the employment of sufficient coaching staff. Also, the availability of efficient training facilities is essential in managing the injury crises among participants. Generally, activities, where men are involved, receive a higher profile hence better coaching and training facilities. Unfortunately, women are left to struggle in their training; hence, they fail to have an understanding of injury management skills. Besides, poor coaching and training facilities define the system of women’s activities hence the higher risk of sustaining injuries. Generally, most governments have not invested equally in men’s and women’s activities hence the suffering of women in terms of injuries. Moreover, the claim that women easily get injured compared to women overlooks the type of activities that men and women carry out.
Societies have been shaped to create specific activities for either gender. Women are seen as individuals who should only engage in less strenuous activities, and the risk of injuries in some of the activities is low. When a comparison is made on the frequency of injuries based on the activities, men tend to have a higher rate of sustaining injuries. However, the activities that men engage in are hard and contribute to a high number of injuries compared to the activities left for women. For example, women have, in the past, not been active in the sporting fields. Men have been left to dominate the world of sports for a long time, with women participating in less strenuous sporting activities. For example, several countries have held religious beliefs that hinder women from participating in sports such as football. Also, other societies have classified lighter duties such as childcare and household chores as duties that should be carried out by women. The probability of sustaining injuries from lighter duties is low compared to heavy duties carried out by men. A comparison of men and women at similar activities, however, provides different results. Women hardly keep hold of the pressure that comes with strenuous activities and eventually sustain more injuries compared to men.
In sum, women have a higher probability of sustaining injuries compared to men. However, uncertainty continues to grow over the cause of the gender gap in terms of injury sustenance. The intensity of injuries on women has been reported to be higher than that of men due to several factors such as estrogen and anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Generally, people who believe that men sustain injuries more frequently compared to women base their arguments on factors that may easily be reputed. Besides, women have, for a long time, not been allowed to engage in strenuous activities like men; hence, the comparison has been difficult. A comparison between the injury rate of men and women is essential in determining that women generally have a higher probability of sustaining injuries compared to men.
Works Cited
Bergen, Gwen. “Falls and fall injuries among adults aged≥ 65 years—United States, 2014.” MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 65 (2016).
Covassin, Tracey, Ryan Moran, and R. J. Elbin. “Sex differences in reported concussion injury rates and time loss from participation: an update of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program from 2004–2005 through 2008–2009.” Journal of athletic training 51.3 (2016): 189-194.
Ferrara, Morgan P. “The Effectiveness of Functional Movement Screening Testing in Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Women’s Collegiate Soccer.” (2018).
Jones, Bruce H., and Veronique D. Hauschild. “Physical training, fitness, and injuries: lessons learned from military studies.” The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 29 (2015): S57-S64.
Stuelcken, Max C., et al. “Mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in elite women’s netball: a systematic video analysis.” Journal of sports sciences 34.16 (2016): 1516-1522.