Tria Leads Charge in Specialized Care for Female Athletes

Amid a surge in popularity for women's sports, Dr. Heather Bergeson is spearheading a unique program at Tria that provides specialized medical care for female athletes.

As women's athletics gain visibility and support, with icons like University of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark advancing to the WNBA, the demand for tailored healthcare solutions has become more apparent.

Dr. Bergeson, an orthopedic and sports medicine specialist, leads the Tria Women's Sports Medicine program in Bloomington, Minnesota.

This program is dedicated to addressing the specific physical needs of women and girls in sports, recognizing that traditional medical practices have often overlooked the distinct anatomical and physiological differences between genders.

Women, for instance, are more prone to certain injuries and require different preventive measures and treatments.

So there are anatomic and physiologic differences between men and women, different skeletal mass and bone laxity, ligament laxity, hormone levels, of course, women tend to have more problems with shoulder instability, shoulder dislocations, ACL tears (an estimated 8 times more common in women than men), concussions, and so the reality is that we need to try to prevent those differently and take care of them differently." 

The program offers comprehensive care across all stages of a woman's life—from young athletes just starting in sports, through the challenges of puberty, and into adulthood including pregnancy and menopause.

Each phase presents unique challenges that the program addresses through a combination of medical care, nutrition, and physical therapy, ensuring that female athletes can perform at their best while minimizing the risk of injury.

Dr. Bergeson emphasizes the importance of visibility and representation in sports, noted: 

“You can’t be what you can’t see. Now, you can be what you CAN see.”

This sentiment highlights the program’s goal to inspire and support the next generation of female athletes by providing high-standard, specialized healthcare.

The TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program not only supports individual athletes but also contributes to broader research efforts focusing on women’s health in sports. By hosting events and collaborating on studies about bone health and hormonal impacts on athletic performance, the program is at the forefront of a crucial shift towards gender-specific sports medicine.

This innovative approach not only enhances the performance and health of female athletes but also enriches the sports community, ensuring women receive the support and recognition they deserve as they break barriers and set new standards in athletics.

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