Since the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, the number of girls competing in high school sports has increased from 295,000 to nearly 3.2 million — with more women playing collegiate sports than ever before.
As these numbers continue to rise, and girls and young women become more empowered through sports, awareness of health issues specific to female athletes has become increasingly important. One issue, the Female Athlete Triad (Triad), has gained increasing awareness as more athletes have come forward about their struggle with the condition.
Dr. Kathryn Ackerman, medical director of Boston Children’s Female Athlete Program, offers the following clinical strategies for avoiding the Triad and keeping athletes healthy.