BJSM E-edition: Female athlete health

Several of the BJSM editorial team attended the excellent 2019 Isokinetic Conference in London this past April. One inspiring session at the conference focused specifically on the latest research in female sport. We heard a call for an increase in the number of published female-specific sports research studies. As the old saying goes “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”, therefore if we have gender differences we need to review the effectiveness of interventions (e.g. prevention programs) and whether they differ between the genders. This was discussed on the BJSM podcast last year by Jacky Forsyth and is included in our e-edition. Given the additional excitement generated by this year’s FIFA women’s world cup we have included some of the most recent papers on concussion and ACL risks in female athletes. We highlight the inspirational BJSM interview with the first ever female to run the prestigious Boston marathon – Kathrine Switzer. This e-edition includes the most recent updates on relative energy deficiency syndrome (RED-S) and reinforces some of the great research published in last year’s physical activity during pregnancy edition of BJSM. It would be remiss of us not to mention that our female athlete edition also features some of the leading talent in the sports medicine research space. Highlighting the work of great female researchers such as Dr. Kathryn Ackerman and Dr. Margie Davenport is always a pleasure. When it comes to the female athlete there cannot be many better conferences than the BJSM approved Biennial International Female Athlete Conference held recently in Boston, USA. It may be worth adding the webpage to your diary to keep abreast of updates on the next one. With great guests such as Dr. Cheri Blauet and Dr. Kirsty Elliot-Sale, it’s sure to attract even more than the 450 registrants who attended this year!

We want to be sure that researchers and readers, know we have heard the call for more gender specific research in sports medicine. As a journal leading the way in our field we certainly look forward to publishing new evidence on gender specific differences in the elite sporting environment. If you want to join the debate, message us on our social media channels @BJSM_BMJ. If you have ideas or want to suggest topics for future editions, we are keen to serve you, our audience. Please get in touch by using the #BJSMOnlineEdition on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to let us know your thoughts. Also, don’t forget to download the BJSM App. The App remains a convenient way to see all the latest podcasts, blogs and other BJSM content in one place. We hope you enjoy these supplementary BJSM editions and wish you a physically active day! Your BJSM online editors