What does balanced health look like?

A young person with balanced health:  

• balances training with recovery 
• gets 8+ hours of sleep  
• fuels adequately to maintain energy 
• has a healthy and regular menstrual cycle  
• rarely has injuries or illness 
• has time for hobbies, relaxation and social connection 

Female specific needs in sport 

Historically, research in sport science has been conducted on male athletes and the findings were applied to female athletes for many years. Current and future research looks to understand the unique female needs in sport and physical activity.  

Key differences in females that affect health and wellbeing:  

• Females are unique because of their menstrual cycle and the hormones that are produced. The menstrual cycle is an important indicator of health. 
• Females change (and move) differently during puberty and need to be supported well during this time of life. 
• Females have different injury risks and challenges, particularly with bone health and major ligament injuries (ACL).  
• Females respond differently than males socially and emotionally in and out of sport, which affects ongoing engagement in physical activity.