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A72 - Women in Strength Training: Physiological and Sociocultural Influences on Participation and Performance
This project investigates the extent to which this bias limits the validity and applicability of exercise science for women.
A72 - Women in Strength Training: Physiological and Sociocultural Influences on Participation and Performance
Mentor: Brady Hall
Exercise science and sports medicine have historically relied on male-dominated research populations, resulting in a persistent “male-default” framework that shapes training, nutrition, and injury-prevention recommendations. This project investigates the extent to which this bias limits the validity and applicability of exercise science for women. Using a structured literature review and quantitative synthesis, peer-reviewed studies, meta-analyses, and consensus statements were analyzed across four domains: (1) representation of female participants, (2) physiological differences, (3) injury and training considerations—particularly the Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and (4) metabolic and nutritional differences.
Findings demonstrate that women remain underrepresented in exercise science research, comprising approximately one-third of study participants, and are substantially underrepresented in performance nutrition and supplementation studies. At the same time, consistent evidence supports meaningful sex-based differences in endocrine function, substrate utilization, and injury risk. Female athletes show greater reliance on lipid oxidation during endurance exercise and are disproportionately affected by conditions linked to low energy availability, contributing to elevated risks of bone stress injuries and other health complications. Despite these established differences, many studies fail to control for female-specific variables such as menstrual status, limiting the precision of current recommendations.
These findings suggest that sex bias in exercise science is not solely an issue of representation, but a limitation in scientific validity. Improving outcomes for women requires both increased inclusion in research and the development of methodologies that accurately account for female physiology. This project highlights the need for a more inclusive and evidence-based framework to ensure that exercise science is both accurate and applicable across populations.