With you, For you: The Many Ways We Stand by Women in Sports

(Well-being of Athletes, Athletic Trainers, and Acupuncturists)

Abstract

The present symposium was organized with the objective of advancing professional understanding of women in sports, particularly among acupuncturists and athletic trainers (ATs), with a specific focus on early-career practitioners intending to engage in clinical and athletic settings. Through presentations that described prior clinical and athletic experiences, as well as perspectives on professional and domestic roles, the symposium addressed current challenges and potential strategies for improving occupational sustainability, psychosocial well-being, and overall quality of life among female professionals in the sports domain. Ms.Fukushima emphasized that athletes' awareness of their own physical condition constitutes a critical determinant of performance. She reported that training instruction informed by prior AT experience provide an advantage in her clinical practice, and that achieving patient well-being reciprocally contributes to her well-being. Ms.Ando presented data indicating sex-specific differences in sport participation rates. She argued that women withdraw from sport, social and domestic environments often prevent them from sustaining participation. Based on her professional experience, she proposed that interventions by acupuncturists and ATs may help promote lifelong engagement in sport and exercise by providing opportunities throughout life. At the same time, she noted the inherent occupational risk of workload accumulation and the tendency to prioritize others' needs over one's own , thereby highlighting the necessity of safeguarding the well-being of acupuncturist and AT themselves. Ms.Morimoto, drawing upon her background as an elite athlete, delineated appropriate modes of engagement between Ats and athletes. She further emphasized the need for athletic environments that enable skilled acupuncturists and ATs to maintain long-term professional activity. In addition, she underscored the importance of recurrent professional education as a mechanism for sustaining clinical competency. Dr.Oiwa outlined her professional trajectory from AT to medical doctor and discussed her present. She concluded that sustained engagement with one's current professional capacity constitutes a direct investment in future advancement. She also observed that the professional recognition of ATs remains limited within the medical doctor community, and advocated for active collaboration with physicians and healthcare institutions to strengthen the visibility and credibility of the AT profession. Finally, the symposium identified ongoing challenges to the physical, psychological, and social fulfillment of female sports professionals, arising from both physiological processes (e.g., hormonal fluctuations) and evolving domestic and social roles. Moreover, the professional recognition of ATs remains insufficient at present. Nevertheless, the application of AT knowledge, skills, and experience can substantially contribute to health promotion and performance optimization. Importantly, the role of ATs extends beyond elite athletes to include the advancement of well-being in general patient populations, thereby representing a significant avenue for societal contribution.