Women who participate in sports such as running, gymnastics, cheerleading, figure skating, soccer and dancing can be at risk of a sports injury. Physiological and hormonal differences between men and women mean there is a different injury profile between men and women. Hormonal differences which can be exacerbated by sports participation mean that women are four times more likely than men to experience osteoporosis. This may be aggravated by dietary problems which are also more likely to occur in women rather than men. As osteoporosis can pre-dispose to stress fractures and fractures, then women are disproportionately affected by these injuries.

Generally speaking, women have a wider pelvis which means they have different body alignment compared to men and it has been hypothesised that this alignment difference where the hips are wider, knees are squinted inwards and shins are rotated inwards with a flat arch of the foot, can predispose women to injury. Some studies have shown that women with this posture have reduced hip abductor and external rotation strength and that this may further predispose to certain overuse injuries

The PhysioRoom.com guide to Women's Sports injuries explains what the most common women's injuries are, how they are caused and the best way to treat them.