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Published January 10, 2017
There are definitive, gender-specific differences when it comes to men and women, and this even includes common aches, pains, and injuries.
Let’s start with the fairer sex.
While injuries themselves are not gender-specific, many women-only factors can influence them; for example, age, anatomic variations, weight, strength, and flexibility. Plus, a woman’s body and subsequent lifestyle may differ quite a bit from a man’s, from the places where she stores fat to the size of muscle in relation to bone mass to greater hip width to even how she sits and walks.
With that in mind, here is a look at two specific pains that women often confront more than men, why they occur, and how to fix it.
1. Piriformis Syndrome
What is it? An irritation of the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttocks.
“The sciatic nerve runs right by the piriformis and in some people actually goes through the middle of it, which can lead to nerve symptoms down the leg, says Chris Finn, PT, CSCS, CGFI, sports physical therapist.
What are the symptoms? Pain and tightness in the buttocks during prolonged sitting sessions. It can also feel like a sharp pain down the leg.
What are the causes? This deep hip muscle can work overtime, Finn adds, due to weakness of the gluteus muscles and lack of hip stability, which can lead to erratic movement and body compensation patterns.
How does it affect gender?
Jill Murphy, DPT, LAT, CSCS, physical therapist and owner of MotionWorks Physical Therapy, www.motionworkspt.com, explains some of the reasons why women may deal more with this posterior injury than men:
How can you prevent it?
According to the article “Piriformis Syndrome, Diagnosis and Treatment,” published in the Muscle Nerve Journal, some of the preventive measurements are:
2. Plantar Fasciitis
What is it? When the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed.
What are the symptoms? Pain in the heel and/or arch, particularly in the morning when getting out of bed.
What are the causes? Being overweight, prolonged standing periods, high arch or flat feet, and tightness of the calf muscles.
How does it affect gender? In Murphy’s experience, these factors may tax more women than men, exacerbating the problem:
How can you prevent it?
https://www.foxnews.com/health/marta-montenegro-women-friendly-pain