Routine strength exercise warm-ups should be mandated to reduce leg injuries in female athletes across all ages and levels of competitive sport, according to a new set of global recommendations co-led by La Trobe University, the University of Calgary and supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the Female, woman, girl Athlete Injury pRevention (FAIR) Consensus Statement offers 56 practical recommendations to reduce injury risk and improve safety.

The recommendations span policy reform, training, personal protective equipment, secondary prevention, implementation strategies and the creation of gender/sex-specific supportive sport environments.

Co-author Professor Kay Crossley, Director of La Trobe University’s Sports and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, said the FAIR recommendations offered a roadmap for athletes, parents, coaches and sports administrators, which could be adapted to different settings and cultures. 

“This world-leading initiative recognises the unique injury risks faced by female athletes and provides clear, actionable guidance for everyone involved in sport, from grassroots to elite levels,” Professor Crossley said. 

Recommendations include: 

• Mandated sport-specific strength, balance and control (neuromuscular) exercises for a minimum of 10 minutes, twice a week to prevent first-time and repeat leg injuries.  
• Enforced fair play by disallowing dangerous contact to reduce injuries of all kinds. 
• Knee braces should not be used to prevent first-time knee injuries, including anterior cruciate tears. Semi-rigid ankle braces should be used to prevent first-time and repeat sprains.  
• Mandated mouthguards in collision sports to prevent concussion and dental injuries. 
• Encouragement of properly fitted sports bras to reduce breast discomfort and skin irritation.  
• Shared responsibility among sport partners for creating spaces where female, woman and girl athletes’ safety and wellbeing is front of mind and non-negotiable.  
• Create safe spaces free from body shaming, idealised body types and gendered norms. 

Estimates suggest only 22 per cent of Australian women aged 15 years and over participated in a sport-related activity at least once a week. Women and girls often face gendered barriers in sport that can affect their safety, participation and performance.  

“The rates of sport participation and injuries in girls’ sport are increasing and many girls that get injured from sport don’t return,” said co-author Professor Carolyn Emery, from the University of Calgary’s Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre.  

Dr Jane Thornton, IOC’s Director of Health, Medicine and Science said the mandate of the Department is to promote and protect athlete health, in sport and through sport. Convening consensus meetings to produce global recommendations for injury and illness prevention such as the FAIR recommendations are a priority for the IOC. 

“There is a significant data gap in terms of how female athlete health data are collected and represented in research and policy. Injury and illness rates are disproportionately high and female athlete health has risen to be among the top five priorities for international sport federations.” 

Professor Crossley said many females, women and girls trained and competed in environments that were not set up for their success.  

“Targeted action is needed to educate sports partners and improve access to injury-prevention programs, good sporting facilities and resources that are supported by sufficient funding. 

“The FAIR Consensus helps address this gap by offering tools to protect female, woman and girl athletes’ health, extend careers and promote lifelong participation. We all have a role to play in creating safer, more inclusive sports environments where women and girls can thrive.” 

IMAGE CREDIT: NASA.