Abstract

Comprising eleven original contributions, both reviews and research, this book focuses on the health and well-being of the sportswoman. It examines the complex of biological, social and psychological factors which influence the role women play in sports and which thus impact upon the physical and mental health of the sportswoman. The volume opens with a survey of research related to skeletal health and sports with suggested techniques to better understand skeletal problems in females. There follow studies on the causes and prevention of injuries to the breast, and the effect of acupunture on cardiorespiratory responses on swimmers. The physical characteristics of female cross-country runners and basketball players are compared. Visual impairment is shown to have a great impact on physical activity and sports participation by girls. A further chapter provides an extensive review of psychological literature relative to the sportswoman. Several subsequent articles look at the changing role of women in sports, and their role in ancient Greek and Roman society; social forces which influence female participation in sport are highlighted. Lack of sports participation by women is also related to parental influences and sex-related play activity during childhood. The final chapter describes the influence of legal theory on sports participation by women especially as it relates to sex discrimination. Klappentext