{"id":11850,"date":"2026-02-02T06:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T05:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=11850"},"modified":"2026-02-01T20:42:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T19:42:54","slug":"upper-extremity-injuries-in-female-woman-and-girl-athletes-what-we-know-what-we-dont-and-what-clinicians-can-do-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2026\/02\/02\/upper-extremity-injuries-in-female-woman-and-girl-athletes-what-we-know-what-we-dont-and-what-clinicians-can-do-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Upper extremity injuries in female, woman, and girl athletes: What we know, what we don\u2019t, and what clinicians can do now."},"content":{"rendered":"

Upper extremity injuries are common in many sports, yet the evidence guiding how to prevent them in female, woman, and girl (female\/woman\/girl hereafter) athletes is surprisingly scarce. We recently conducted a systematic review to identify which prevention strategies work, and which modifiable risk factors might contribute to these injuries in female\/woman\/girl athletes (1).<\/span> Our findings helped to inform the International Olympic Committee\u2019s Female, Woman, and Girl Athlete Injury pRevention (FAIR) Consensus (2), and they highlight encouraging insights and important gaps that need urgent attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is this study important?<\/h3>\n

Female\/woman\/girl athletes experience a substantial burden of upper extremity injuries, with upper extremity injuries comprising roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of all sport injuries across levels of play (1).<\/span> These injuries can limit sport participation, affect performance, and contribute to pain, disability, and long-term consequences. Much of the existing evidence, however, is based on studies involving male\/man\/boy athletes or from studies that combine sexes\/genders without reporting separate estimates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Without sex- and gender-disaggregated data, clinicians are left extrapolating findings that may not reflect the specific context of female\/woman\/girl athletes. This can lead to incorrect assumptions, missed opportunities for prevention, and a lack of targeted strategies that address how female\/woman\/girl athletes train, develop, and participate in sport.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the gaps and where to focus prevention efforts is essential for improving female\/woman\/girl athlete health and performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

How did the study go about this?<\/h3>\n

We identified 55 studies that met our inclusion criteria and examined prevention strategies or modifiable risk factors for upper extremity injuries in female\/woman\/girl athletes. Remarkably, only 26% of participants in these studies were female\/woman\/girl athletes and only 17\/55 of studies reported sex- or gender-specific results. This limited the strength of many conclusions but still offered valuable insights.<\/span><\/p>\n

What did the study find?<\/h3>\n

The only evidence-informed upper extremity prevention strategy identified (based on three studies) was shoulder-focused exercise programmes that reduced shoulder injury rates by 51% across handball and volleyball athletes. These programmes typically included shoulder external rotational strength, trunk stability\/strength, and sport-specific exercises.<\/span><\/p>\n

For modifiable risk factors (listed below), the evidence was mixed and generally very low certainty:<\/span><\/p>\n