GIRL TALK

From period pain to bladder leakage, it’s time to open up the conversation on women’s workouts

- AMBER BRAMBLE

Women are many things – strong, capable and flexible just to name a few. But when it comes to workouts, we have some unique needs. From puberty to childbirth and into menopause, there’s a host of factors that can affect our exercise requirements.

“From about birth to 12 years old, there’s not a huge difference,” physiotherapist Catherine Willis says. “[It’s] once girls start to go through adolescence, you’ve then got that change in body shape.”

As different stages of life bring a variety of health issues and concerns, there can be a tendency to sweep them under the carpet. Many gym-goers can feel embarrassed to raise them with their personal trainer – something Willis discourages. “If you’re paying for that service, you should feel free to speak up,” she says.

INJURIES

Women can be more prone to some injuries than men, which is partially due to changes that occur during puberty. “As hips start to get slightly wider, [women] can get more angulation at their knees, which can put them more at risk of knee pain,” Willis explains.

Another factor is oestrogen, which spikes around day 12 to 13 of each menstrual cycle. “It makes the connective tissue in your body softer and less rigid so you can be more at risk of injury,” Willis says. “Some athletes will actually avoid doing certain kinds of training at a particular part of their cycle to reduce this risk.”

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