Athletics Ireland’s Women’s Health and Wellbeing Month (May 2024)

Join us for our Women's Health and Wellbeing events in May! Find a list of the upcoming events with links to registration below.

1. REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) - Sharon Maddigan - 8th May

Athletics Ireland will be hosting a free webinar on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Previously called the Female Athlete Triad, it is characterised by low energy availability due to a calorie deficit. The condition, which was termed in 2014 by the International Olympic Committee, can affect both males and females, including elite and non-elite athletes.

Our keynote speaker will be Sharon Madigan. Sharon Madigan is a Performance Nutritionist with the Sport Ireland Institute and she works with the Irish Olympic Team. She has previously worked with the high performance boxing, athletics and rowing teams, the Ulster rugby team and club and county GAA teams.

With so many young girls and teenagers taking part in Athletics this is a must watch for coaches, parents and any young athletes.

Athletics Ireland Inspire Ambassadors will also share their experiences and there will be an opportunity for questions too.

This webinar is open to anyone aged 13 and above. However, anyone under 18 must watch the webinar with a parent or guardian.

• Wednesday 8th May 8-9pm

Sign Up Here

2. Sports Bras – Beyond the Bounce

Focused on empowering you with the knowledge and tools to support your athletes and yourself in breast health, understanding breast injury and navigating sports bras.

Hosting our session is Charlotte from PeBe, the multi-award-winning sports bra company, and resident sports bra expert for The Well HQ. Sharing her expertise and enthusiasm for the topic of supporting your breast health and why.

In this webinar she will be educating you on some incredible topics and upskilling your knowledge on the following:

• Why are breasts so vulnerable in sport?
• How does breast movement impact your health: from breath to pelvic floor, to injury risk, posture and more.
• Breast Injury: uncover common workout woes that could lead to damage.
• Myth Busters: Common things women say about sports bras and bust some myths whilst we are at it.
• Getting the right fit for you: shopping tips, fit/measuring guidance and how PeBe can support.
• Q&A Time: Get your questions answered.

Wednesday 15th May 8-9pm

Sign Up Here

3. Pelvic Floor Health Essentials for Women

Lorraine Boyce, founder of Down Below Physio, is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and a Pregnancy and Postnatal Clinical Specialist. She set up Down Below Physio to help ladies with pelvic health issues such as bladder or bowel incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, hormonal health, pelvic girdle pain, diastasis recti and more.

She offers appointments in person at her Down Below Physio clinic or online via video consultation, and she has a range of online courses on her website to support you to feel your best ‘down below’, through pregnancy, postnatal and in midlife.

Lorraine will discuss the importance of pelvic floor health for athletes, especially postnatal and during midlife, common pelvic floor issues, guidance on the correct way to do the exercises and common challenges and misconceptions.

The webinar will be on Wednesday 22nd May 8-9pm

Sign Up Here