Latest news with #athleteHealth
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The WTA And Hologic On Advancing Women's Sports Healthcare
Gaby Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe won the women's doubles title at the Rothesay Open in Nottingham ... More in 2024. The WTA has a proud legacy of prioritizing athlete health, rooted in the vision of the Original 9 and Billie Jean King. Early on, the WTA recognized that simply treating injuries wasn't enough. Female athletes face unique challenges like motherhood and career transitions that demand a proactive, integrated approach to care. Over the years, the WTA has continually evolved to meet these needs, offering support that includes international health coverage, mental health resources, special ranking protections for pregnancy and injury, and on-site access to physicians, physical therapists, and more. In 2022, the WTA took its commitment to athlete health even further through a groundbreaking partnership with Hologic, a global leader in women's health and medical technology. This collaboration is centered on a shared mission: to redefine what wellness looks like for women competing at the highest levels—and to extend those benefits beyond the court. Highlights of this partnership include: WTA Hologic Healthcare, Horizon DXA System Reflecting on her 30 years with the WTA, Kathleen Stroia, the WTA's Senior Vice President of Performance Health, sees the current moment as a turning point—not just for tennis, but for all of women's sports. 'Historically, women's sports medicine has taken a reactive approach,' says Stroia. 'It focused on treating injuries after they occurred. What we've created with Hologic is a proactive, integrated model specifically designed for the unique physiology and life experiences of female athletes.' 'When I started, there was very little data or research on women athletes. Most medical protocols were designed for men and scaled down for us,' she says. 'Today, we're leading with research, innovating with intent, and setting a new gold standard—one where athlete care and performance health go hand in hand.' The WTA offers the most comprehensive annual physicals in women's sports. Players undergo advanced screening that includes DXA scans to assess bone density and body composition, crucial data points that help identify risks early and tailor training regimens accordingly. PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Jessica Pegula of the United States in action against Ann Li of the United ... More States in the second round of the singles competition on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the 2025 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on May 29th, 2025, in Paris, France. (Photo by) Just as importantly, the WTA provides dedicated women's health stations at tournaments, giving players convenient access to services that are rarely prioritized in other sports, such as breast and cervical screenings, hormone evaluations, fertility education, and professional bra fittings. 'It's like going to a world-class women's clinic that's built into your career,' says Jessica Pegula, currently ranked among the world's top singles players. 'In one session, I learned more about my hormone levels, bone health, and long-term fertility options than I ever had from years of separate appointments. I walked away with clarity, not just for tennis but for my future as a woman.' RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - NOVEMBER 07: Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada hits pink signed tennis balls for ... More breast cancer awareness into the crowd with Erin Routliffe of New Zealand i(out of pic) after their victory against Caroline Dolehide of the United States and Desirae Krawczyk of the United States in their round robin doubles match during Day 6 of the 2024 WTA Finals Riyadh as part of the Hologic WTA Tour at King Saud University Indoor Arena on November 07, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by) For Canadian doubles champion Gaby Dabrowski, the WTA's commitment to proactive health screening became deeply personal. 'I had found a lump and mentioned it during my annual WTA physical,' Dabrowski recalls. 'Because of that, they fast-tracked me for a scan and biopsy. That's when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was early. And that timing changed everything.' Dabrowski says the medical support from the WTA and the emotional support from Stroia's team carried her through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. 'They didn't just check the box. They surrounded me with care, experts, counselors, even someone to walk me through nutrition during chemo. Kathleen called me personally to check in. It felt like I had an entire family behind me,' Dabrowski says. 'People think of the WTA as a sports organization, but at that moment, they were my healthcare lifeline. If I had waited or ignored it, my story might have been very different.' Dabrowski has since returned to the tour and is sharing her story to encourage other athletes and fans to advocate for their health. 'Early detection saved my life. Every woman deserves access to that.' WTA Hologic Health Screening 2024 According to Stroia, one of the keys to the WTA's success has been its commitment to listening to players and responding in real time. 'Our athletes are not just recipients of care, they're co-creators,' she explains. 'Whether it's about mental health, maternity leave, or injury recovery, we take their input and build policies and services that reflect their realities.' This player-driven approach led to the 2019 overhaul of the Special Ranking Rule, championed by Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, to better protect rankings for athletes returning from maternity leave or injury. It's also influenced the expansion of mental health resources, including a dedicated mental health care team that travels to major tournaments and provides virtual support year-round. 'Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially in a sport where you're constantly on the road and under pressure,' says Pegula. 'Having access to licensed professionals who understand the demands of the tour has been a game-changer for so many of us.' The WTA has worked to remove barriers by streamlining access to specialists and empowering athletes with knowledge. From nutritionists and sleep experts to injury-prevention research and on-demand telehealth, the infrastructure now reflects a holistic approach to peak performance. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Blair Henley speaks at the ceremony honoring the induction of the ... More Original 9 into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Day Eleven of the 2021 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 09, 2021 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo) The WTA's groundbreaking approach to women's athlete health is more than a model for tennis, it's a blueprint for women's sports. By combining cutting-edge science, player-driven policies, and compassionate care, they're proving that investing in women's health is both the right thing to do and smart business. As Kathleen Stroia puts it, 'Athlete care is performance care.' With expanded health screenings, mental health resources, fertility support, and innovative partnerships like the one with Hologic, the WTA raised the bar for what athlete wellness truly means. Stories like Gaby Dabrowski's show how proactive care can be lifesaving, while ongoing initiatives empower players to shape their own health journeys. This holistic, forward-thinking model doesn't just support elite athletes, it has the power to transform health standards for all women athletes. The WTA's commitment ensures that comprehensive, equitable women's health services are no longer a dream but the new standard and a legacy that will continue to inspire the future of women's sports worldwide.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Sonia O'Sullivan: How runners can best deal with the dreaded Achilles injury
Every athlete has an Achilles heel, and it's inevitable they'll run into an injury there at some point in their career. There's no such thing as good or bad timing, it will always feel like the wrong time, as momentum and fitness is lost and the mental battle begins to get through the non-running phase. It's also the one injury that all athletes dread to even think about. It might be an Achilles niggle, a strain, a small tear, or a complete rupture, only it doesn't always present itself in a typical way. On some days it hurts more than others, on some runs it can mysteriously disappear, but it often frustrates the athlete with its non-linear treatment and return to running. It can also strike any athlete at any time. Jakob Ingebrigtsen is off-track with his training due to an Achilles injury, the Norwegian star posting some videos on social media of his patient approach to the recovery. He also knows he's already playing catch-up on some of his rivals. Ciara Mageean also spoke last week about her slow recovery from the Achilles injury which forced her out of last summer's Olympics. Having undergone surgery last September, she's still not back on the track yet, and won't be racing at all this summer. READ MORE [ Ciara Mageean on the slow road back to fitness Opens in new window ] Some injuries are clearer cut than others. The bone stress reaction that athletes also fear is actually the simplest one deal with it. The consensus is that bone takes six weeks to heal, so that means committing to six weeks of non-weight bearing activity, then the reintroduction of weight bearing activities as the athlete sets out on the road to full recovery. There are some new theories now that bone injuries are perhaps not as straightforward as we thought, and that bone, as a living tissue, also needs some stimulation to promote healing and get back to some weight-bearing activity sooner. This is something that is still in experimental stages, requiring close monitoring by a medical provider with experience in this area. I can clearly remember back to when I was dealing with Achilles injuries in the 1990s. I was lucky that the injuries cropped up in the springtime, the least worst time, so I only missed out on the World Cross Country or World Indoor events. The outdoor season was always the priority for me, so there was time enough not to panic. Even though I was never happy to miss any races, I knew if I put my head down and worked hard on the rehabilitation then I'd be back even stronger. I can remember turning up at the Hartmann International Clinic in Limerick city, staying in the apartments above so that I could have twice daily sessions, and also access to the gym and cross training equipment. The scans revealed that I was a perfect candidate for Achilles surgery, but Gerard Hartmann gave me two options; the first was conservative intensive treatment, alongside a bucket of crushed ice where I would immerse my ankle, alternating with warm water, at least four times per day. If there was no improvement in four weeks, the second option be surgery. With option one, all I would have lost is four weeks, whereas with surgery you straight away give up at least six months. Both Achilles, left and right, caused me trouble throughout my career, and I always took the conservative option. This didn't give much leeway to any other activities outside of treatment, rehabilitation, icing, strengthening and cross training for at least four weeks. Then a slow and gradual return to running. The greatest benefit of all was the mental resilience this protocol gave me when I eventually got back racing. Putting the decision into my own hands and determining my outcome is something I have continued to carry with me through life, and pass on to athletes I work with. Including my daughter Sophie, who was in a similar position with an injury last year, just four months out from the Paris Olympics. For Ingebrigtsen, it helps that he's been down the Achilles injury route before. He had a similar issue last season, before the track season got going, yet managed things and still produced a record-breaking European and Olympic gold medal-winning season. Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Photograph: Maja Hitij/Getty The big difference this year is the Achilles has reared its head a little bit closer to his opening races. Particularly the Oslo Diamond League meeting on June 12th, where he normally kicks off his season at home. There was talk of world records over 5,000m, but this will now happen without Ingebrigtsen's name on the start list. Not everything is lost though, as there are still 15 weeks before the World Championships in Tokyo get started – just under four months – so ample time to heal and recover and get back into a high level of training. This is also off the back of maintaining fitness in the gym, on the bike, the cross-trainer and special gravity-defying treadmills that many athletes now use on their road back to full recovery. These treadmills that Ingebrigtsen was seen using this week allow an athlete to maintain their running specific training, while not carrying their full body weight. This can be adjusted as they are able to tolerate more weight and force going through the body as the Achilles begins to heal and regain strength. Unfortunately not available to all runners. Mageean has no doubt the surgery on her right Achilles will allow her to get back to compete on the World and Olympic stage in future years. She's understandably getting a little impatient, but with any injury, it's important to believe in the healing process. Mageean only needs to look at her left Achilles, and how she recovered from surgery on that back on 2013, to have trust in that process too. When you've been to multiple World Championships like Mageean, you can afford to step back. But no athlete likes to get too far away from the racing track.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Want To Recover Faster From an Injury? Here's What To Do, According to a Trainer
Getting physically injured is a nightmare, especially for active people and athletes. Injuries mean lost time at the gym, sitting out of games, and feeling defeated. But believe it or not, the challenges that come from recovery can actually inspire improvement. Follow these five tips and return to workouts physically and mentally the difference between being hurt and suffering an injury. 'We like to 'man up' and walk it off when we get hurt. But you know you are injured when the pain you sustained has not gone away or perhaps has gotten worse,' says Aaron Wexler, C.P.T. 'Pain is the first sign that something in your body's kinetic chain is not right.' You can walk off being sore, but you should not walk off real pain. How did you get injured? Understanding what happened will be key to your rehab plan so you can avoid further injury. Knowing what went wrong will also help you mentally, as getting injured can really impact your confidence level. Work with your doctor on an exercise-based rehab program. A physical therapist or personal trainer can also help correct bad movement patterns and muscle imbalances in order to prevent further injuries. A nutrient-packed diet and adequate hydration are key during recovery. Adding a supplement like glutamine, MSM and or creatine may also help rebuild joints. Stay away from alcohol and sugar when possible. Continue your prescribed rehab plan for a few weeks after you feel back to normal. This will help you continue to build strength. Focus on stabilization, core, and flexibility exercises after rehab. You'll also want to warm up your injured muscle with a foam roller
