Episode description

Sports medicine physician Emily Kraus knows a lot about the health challenges of female athletes. Women face far more ACL tears and bone stress injuries than men, for instance, and excessive training or poor nutrition can also delay puberty and affect menstruation. These differences are vastly understudied, she says. To close the gap, Kraus initiated the “Female Athlete Voice Project” that asks female Olympic and Paralympic athletes about their health experiences. We need to tailor approaches specific to female athletes, Kraus tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’sThe Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your quest. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.

Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford Profile: Emily Kraus
• Emily’s Survey: Centering The Female Athlete Voice in a Sports Science Research Agenda
• Stanford FASTR Program
• Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance

Connect With Us:

• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
• Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon
• Connect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Host Russ Altman introduces Emily Kraus, a professor of orthopedics at Stanford University and an expert on the issues of women's health.

(00:02:19) Health Challenges for Female Athletes

Prevalent injuries and health issues unique to female athletes.

(00:03:57) Hormonal Health and Puberty

The impact of hormonal health and menstrual cycles on young athletes’ performance.

(00:06:57) Body Composition and Mental Health

The challenges and psychological impact puberty has on young athletes.

(00:08:53) Female Athletes in Adulthood

The lack of research and resources available for female athletes during major life transitions.

(00:12:48) Nutrition, Fueling, and Recovery Science

How science has evolved in understanding nutrition, recovery, and strategic rest.

(00:15:54) Gender Differences in Fueling and Recovering

The differences between male and female athletes in nutrition and recovery.

(00:19:19) Survey of Olympic Athletes

Insights from female Olympians and Paralympians on the key gaps in sports science research.

(00:21:40) The WUSAI Human Performance Alliance

The WUSAI Human Performance Alliance’s focus on uncovering the principles of human performance.

(00:25:35) The Female Athlete Survey

The unexpected findings from the survey, highlighting the sexism and inequity in sports.

(00:27:26) Spreading Knowledge to Athletes and Clinicians

How Emily’s research is being received by the broader athletic and medical communities.

(00:30:00) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook