Physiological and Medical Aspects That Put Women Soldiers at Increased Risk for Overuse Injuries.
Anthropometric and physiological factors place female soldiers at a disadvantage relative to male soldiers in most aspects of physical performance. Average aerobic and anaerobic fitness levels are lower in women than in men. Thus, women have a lower overall work capacity and must exert themselves more than men to achieve the same output. The lower weight and fat-free mass and the higher body fat of women are associated with lower muscle strength and endurance, placing them at a disadvantage compared with men in performing military tasks such as lifting and carrying weights, or marching with a load. Working at a higher percentage of their maximal capacity to achieve the same performance levels as men, women tire earlier. Their smaller size, skeletal anatomy, and different bone geometry also predispose women to a higher incidence of exercise-related injuries. Consequently, the attrition rate of female soldiers in combat units is higher than that of their male counterparts. This review summarizes the literature on gender-related physiological and anatomical differences that put female soldiers at an increased risk of exercise-related injuries.
1Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; and 2Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Yoram
Y
Epstein
Chen
C
Fleischmann
Ran
R
Yanovich
Yuval
Y
Heled
D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics