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By Mallory Kraft , Ponchatoula Therapy
Women ’ s health and wellness should be a year-round concern
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It is Women ’ s Eye Health and Safety Month . January was Cervical Health Awareness Month and included National Folic Acid Awareness Week . February included National Girls and Women in Sports Day and National Wear Red Day . March , of course , was Women ’ s History Month , and March 10 was National Women and Girls HIV / AIDS Awareness Day .
There are no shortage of reminders concerning our health . CDC . gov reminds us that everything has a day , a week and even an entire month for focus .
Did you know that women are more likely to have knee problems , hip pain and even back pain ? In February , when National Girls and Women in Sports Day occurred , we should have paid attention . But it ’ s not too late ! Women ’ s health should be a year-round focus .
We celebrate women and their contributions to the family , to business and to the community . While we honor their work , we also must realize that special care is necessary when understanding women ’ s health .
The popular thought concerning women ’ s health is taking care of the heart , understanding the need to visit primary care physicians for checkups and tests . The health of the muscles may be at the bottom of women ’ s long to-do lists .
Women are susceptible to lower back pain and knee problems . We often see 40-year-old women with hip and back pain , and it can start much earlier than that . We actually see a lot of teenage girls with knee problems too .
Medical professionals understand that women are often more mobile than men . Due to this mobility and poor stability , women experience lower back pain .
Women are simply built differently . And this presents obvious benefits for childbirth and carrying children to term , but it presents challenges as well . Women can combat these challenges through proper diet and exercise .
Exercise technique is important . Because women ’ s hips are wider , knees often fall inward on jumps . If women pay attention to technique , they can avoid knee problems and that aching lower back .
There are preferred exercises that women should discuss with healthcare professionals for techniques that are unique to body makeup and strength . Pelvic thrusts , prayer stretches and core exercises are all good for the lower back . Women should also focus on hip strengthening , their quads and inner thighs .
While we may have different health concerns and activity than our male counterparts , we can pay attention to our bodies to prevent and combat aches and pains . Speak to your physical therapist or physician to determine your strategy .