The female athlete

Anatomic considerations are the female athlete's wider pelvis, shorter extremities and lower center of gravity. There is little qualitative difference in the muscle tissue of men and women; differences in strength stem from the amount of muscle mass. Amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea is common in runners, ballet dancers, cyclists, gymnasts, body builders, figure skaters and, to a lesser extent, swimmers. Pregnancy limits activity, but current evidence indicates that exercise during pregnancy is not harmful to either the mother or the fetus.