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My Personal Experience

This course is not really just for women; these concepts apply to anyone of any gender. However, I lead various classes and workshops primarily attended by women. The reason for this trend is intriguing—perhaps women are more open to novel approaches, or they may not find what they need in conventional health settings.

Working with women, especially those in my age group, is incredibly fulfilling. I've observed that they are often open-minded and eager to learn new concepts. They engage actively, asking insightful questions and genuinely listening to the answers. Women in this stage of life are at a pivotal point: they are shifting focus from family responsibilities to exploring new horizons and opportunities for personal growth.

However, many of them are also confronting a reality in which their bodies have been overlooked and have undergone significant external and internal changes. Realizing the loss of certain abilities that once came effortlessly can be alarming.

Through my interactions with clients, I hear numerous stories echoing these sentiments. I've encountered clients who have sustained injuries from attempting fitness programs ill-suited for their current state. For instance, a fitness DVD designed for a younger audience might not be appropriate for a 50-year-old with a history of a neck injury and a predominantly sedentary lifestyle.

I aspire to empower every woman to lead a long, functional life. Our bodies are essential vessels that support us through life's journey, and it's crucial that we nurture and maintain them with care and understanding.

Women and Healthcare

This may not surprise many of you, but women have historically been underrepresented in health research. This disparity has significant implications for our health and well-being.

Historical Context

Historically, medical research has often centered on the male body as the standard, with the assumption that findings from male subjects could be universally applied. This "one-size-fits-all" approach ignored the physiological and hormonal differences between men and women, leading to a significant gap in understanding how diseases and treatments affect women specifically.

Biological Differences

Men and women differ in various biological aspects, including genetics, hormones, and metabolism. These differences can influence the onset, progression, and treatment of diseases. For example, women may experience heart disease symptoms differently than men and are more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases. Yet, due to the male-dominated research focus, many medical guidelines are based on studies that primarily involved men, potentially leading to misdiagnoses or less effective treatments for women. Our biological differences have also led to the exclusion of women in research because they, particularly hormone differences, complicate study outcomes.

Additionally, males have historically dominated the healthcare industry, leading to bias in shaping research priorities. However, this is slowly changing!

Policy Changes and Advocacy

Recognizing these disparities, researchers have made concerted efforts to address the gender gap in health research. Policies now encourage the inclusion of women in clinical trials and mandate sex-specific data analysis. For instance, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States has implemented guidelines to ensure that women and minorities are adequately represented in research.

If you are interested in this topic, click here for a fascinating look at gender disparities in healthcare.

Women and Pain

Pain is a massive problem in our culture, and women are experiencing pain at higher rates than men, especially in their later years. Seventy percent of women will experience chronic pain at some point in their lives. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than three months. Women of ALL ages experience pain at greater rates than men, and we tend to experience pain more intensively. This is often due to hormonal influences as well as anxiety and depression, which are also experienced at greater rates in women than men. The group experiencing the most pain is post-menopausal women. The rate of pain in this group is 60 to 70%!

The National Institute of Health (NIH)

We now have two women at the helm of the NIH. Monica M. Bertagnolli, M.D., is the current director, and Helene M. Langevin, M.D., is the director of the Integrative Branch of the NIH. Her research interest is FASCIA.

The NIH is recognizing that most of the pain we are experiencing is MYOFASCIAL pain, and the strategies we have been using to address pain are not helping. Pain has become an epidemic, as has the use of opioid medications.

Fascia and Pain

The NIH and many other researchers around the world are studying the role of fascia in pain. We already know a lot about fascia and pain, but it is not finding its way into traditional healthcare. My passion is seeking out this information and sharing it with my clients, friends, family, and anyone who will listen.

Thank YOU for listening.

Fede, C., Pirri, C., De Caro, R., & Stecco, C. (2022). Myofascial pain in females and personalized care: The key role played by sex hormones. European Journal of Pain, 26(4), 800-812. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1920

Lu, C. B., Liu, P. F., Zhou, Y. S., Meng, F. C., Qiao, T. Y., Yang, X. J., Li, X. Y., Xue, Q., Xu, H., Liu, Y., Han, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Musculoskeletal Pain during the Menopausal Transition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neural plasticity, 2020, 8842110. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8842110