Ever since the #1 New York Times bestseller entitled "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" by John Gray was published, more and more people have asked the question "What makes men and women so different?". Gray's use of analogies and metaphors to highlight key differences between genders has made the book a modern classic.
Although Gray's work was focused on relationships between spouses, it is important to understand that there are several physical and physiological attributes that are unique to women, and physical therapy plays an important role in women's health.
Three functions in particular, are unique to women. These include menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation. These functions are intricately tied to complex hormonal patterns in women, which also influence behavior.
Some of the fundamental physical differences between men and women include:
- Men have more muscle mass than women.
- Women tend to have a higher proportion of body fat than men. This fat is generally stored in the breasts, hips and buttocks.
- Men tend to have more body hair (especially facial hair)
Physical therapists understand the physical differences (and unique needs) of the female population and are uniquely qualified to assist women to live healthy, pain-free lives.