Exercise and sports in women srimanti

BY SHREEMANTI BHATTACHARYYA3RD YEAR STUDENT

MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL, KOLKATA.

EXERCISE AND SPORTS IN WOMEN

THE MYTH

Myth of the “stronger sex” and “the weaker sex”

Women’s sport as reflected in the medical discourse

PHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES

Fat storage

Muscle mass

Muscle strength

Endurance

Thermoregulation

CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE

LV END DIASTOLIC CAVITY DIMENSIONS

40 43 46 49 52 55 58 61 640

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

female athletessedentary female con-trols

DISTRIBUTION OF MAXIMUM LV WALL THICKNESS IN 738 MALE ATHLETES AND 600 FEMALE ATHLETES

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 101112131415160

50

100

150

200

250

300

Male athletesFemale athletes

RELATIVE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT SPORTS ON LV CAVITY DIMENSIONS

Controls

Wrestling

Shooting

Track and Field

Tennis

Waterpolo

Rowing/Canoeing

Cycling

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percentage Increase

Percentage Increase

METABOLIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES

Basal metabolic rateActive young woman-2400kcal/d

Active young man-3000 to 3200kcal/d

BMR when calculated in terms of lean muscle mass the difference disappears.

Oxygen uptakeWomen have 10-15% less Hb/100ml of blood.Men have higher levels of arterial-venous oxygen difference

Blood Lactate Levels Women and girls reach elevated venous blood lactate levels at a lower absolute workload.

Fat metabolismWomen cannot mobilize or utilize fat from adipose tissue better than men.

Gender Sport VO2 max(ml/kg/min)

Males •Cross country skiers•Marathon runners•Rowers•Long distance swimmers•Speed skaters

70-9470-7558-75

48-6850-75

Females •Cross country skiers•Marathon runners•Rowers•Distance swimmers•Speed skaters

56-7450-5541-5845-6040-52

ATHLETIC DISORDERS SPECIFIC TO WOMEN

FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD

Exercise Effects

Energy Drain

Eating Disorders

Mental Stress

Genetic Factors

Reproductive

Immaturity

Hypothalamic Dysfunction

GnRH FSH & LH Oestradiol

Progesterone

Delayed MenarcheShort Luteal

Phase/AnovulationOligo/Amenorrhoea

Reduced Bone MassStress

Fractures

Infertility(temporary

)

BONE MINERAL DENSITY OF THE LUMBER SPINE AND LOWER LIMB

Lum

ber

Fem

oral

nec

k

Troc

hant

er

Inte

rtroc

hant

eric R

egio

n

Fem

oral

sha

ft

Tibi

a

Fibu

la0

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

In Amenorrhoeic Ath-letesIn Eumenorrhoeic Ath-letes

NUTRITION AND THE ACTIVE WOMAN

Dietary component

Comment or role

Intake requirement

Sources

Carbohydrate

•Important for endurance athletes•Less important for strength athletes

•5-7 gm/kg for moderate to low intensity exercise•7-12 gm/kg for high intensity exercise

•Fruits•Vegetables•Whole grain bread•Brown rice•Legumes•Rolled oats•Sweet potatoes

Protein •Important for all active individuals•Needed for energy and muscle repair

•1.2-1.4gm/kg/d for endurance athletes•1.6-1.8gm/kg/d for resistance or speed athletes

•Lean pork and beef•Fish•Eggs•Poultry•Corn

Dietary component

Comment or role

Intake requirement

Sources

Fat •Required for active individuals•Provides the most energy per gram of all macronutrients•Maintains sex hormones and aids in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins

•Linoleic acid-11-12gm/d•Alpha linoleic acid -1.1gm/d•25-30% of energy intake should be from fat

•Fish oil supplements•Safflower oil•Sunflower oil•Nuts•Seeds•Corn oil•Egg yolk•Nut butter

Dietary component

Comment or role

Intake requirements

Sources

Fluids •Important to maintain performance

•2.2L/d for women aged 19-30 years•400-600ml 2hrs before exercise•150-350 ml every 15-20 min during exercise

•Sports drink containing carbohydrate and sodium

Iron •Iron deficiency common due to menstrual losses or vegetarian diets leading to long term fatigue

•Varies •Red meat•Supplements under close monitoring due to potential adverse effects

THE PREGNANT ATHLETE

CONCLUSION

As more women undertake serious conditioning and training and gain in international experience, many former “barriers” will fall by the wayside and many “limits” will be exceeded.