– I have quite a few period pains, but I tend to just carry on as usual. Painkillers are what keep me going, says Dina Høyem Olsen (16). She is a student in sports at Kvadraturen upper secondary school in Kristiansand. Here, she and the other sports students gain more knowledge about the connection between the menstrual cycle and exercise. Sports teacher Trine Syvertsen Bjerke is behind the teaching. She herself has torn the cruciate ligament in her knee twice. Both times it happened at the start of menstruation. – I am convinced that I could have avoided rupturing my cruciate ligament when I was 12 years old if I had paid more attention to my own menstruation, says Bjerke. – Don’t be embarrassed The sports teacher is in the training room with Dina and her classmates Lea Cathrine Dokmo (16) and Nora Naalsund (16). The girls in the class say that they have no knowledge of what can help when the menstrual pain is at its worst. – I hope we get information that can help with injuries. We learn far too little about menstruation in relation to training today, says Nora Naalsund. Dokmo says that she has had to skip training several times because of period pain. – I don’t usually get severe pain, but it’s uncomfortable when it comes, she says between long jumps. Physical education teacher Trine Syvertsen Bjerke wants to help students avoid injuries during menstruation, as she herself has experienced several times. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news Sports teacher Bjerke is herself certain that the injuries she sustained in her cruciate ligaments are related to her cycle. Now she wants to help her students so that they avoid injuries due to menstruation. The aim of the menstruation project is for the pupils to know what happens throughout the cycle, and what they should take into account in the different phases. – Having understanding, and not being embarrassed to tell if it is an important focus. We want the pupils to gain more knowledge and competence about their own bodies, says Bjerke. Andreas Skoglund and Kamilla Meling are in their third year of sports studies at Kvadraturen upper secondary school. Photo: Lilli Storrønningen / news The boys think it’s interesting Andreas Skoglund and Kamilla Meling are students in the 3rd grade in sports. They both cheer for the project. – It is important because there is little research into women’s health. It is important that women and girls in sport can feel seen, says Meling. Skoglund believes it is important that boys and men also increase their knowledge of this. – As a boy, it is interesting to learn about things that affect women, and find out what is necessary through the different phases, he says. He is supported by sports teacher Bjerke. She says that many of the boys in the class find it interesting and want to learn more. – It is completely natural for us to engage the boys. If, for example, they were to become a coach for a girls’ team, they must have this competence, she says. Sleep worse Gunnvor Halmøy is a physical trainer and medical coordinator for the women’s national football team. She has been in contact with Bjerke and contributed knowledge about the subject. Halmøy says that the menstrual cycle is more than just bleeding. Many studies show that women both recover and sleep worse during ovulation and menstruation itself. – They also get higher breathing and heart rate. It is during this period that they are more susceptible to injury. This may be linked to the symptoms, and that you therefore do not have the same capacity to react, says Halmøy. She sees that more people are beginning to take an interest in the topic, and is making changes. – The Center for Sports conducts research on injury prevention in women. The most important thing is that this knowledge gets out. We are moving in the right direction, she says. . Physical trainer for the women’s national football team Gunnvor Halmøy has contributed knowledge to the menstruation project at Kvadraturen upper secondary school. Photo: Privat The students in the class hope that it helps to contribute to women’s health getting a greater focus than it has had in the past. – I think it’s good that we started the project, and that we can spread the message, says Kamilla Meling.
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Men’s wisdom should prevent sports injuries – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
