ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to report on a preliminary study of work-related injuries among professional female athletes in the US. The number of women participating in professional sports, as well as the number of professional sports and leagues dedicated to women, has increased over the past twenty years. Women now participate in professional football, softball, golf, volleyball, basketball, bowling, tennis, boxing and other traditionally male sports. There is a substantial literature examining health, risk of injury, prevalence of injury and health care delivery to amateur male athletes, and a growing literature on these issues relevant to amateur female athletes. There is also a nascent literature on these issues relevant to professional male athletes, yet very little research has been conducted on professional female athletes’ injury experiences, especially from a public health perspective.
