Despite rising participation and visibility of women in combat sports such as boxing, female athletes remain significantly underrepresented in sports medicine research. Women constitute less than 20% of participants in concussion-related studies, resulting in recovery protocols that often neglect sex-specific factors — including hormonal fluctuations, physiological differences, and other endocrinological considerations.

This disparity places female athletes at greater risk for mid- and long-term brain health consequences.

@BoxeFem360 is a research-driven initiative developed at the University of Aveiro (ID+ and TEMA) in collaboration with the Portuguese Boxing Federation (FPB). The initiative brings together an interdisciplinary team of design researchers, biomechanical and biomedical engineers, PhD and master’s students, along with coaches, athletes, and federation stakeholders, to co-develop evidence-based approaches for safer, more sustainable athletic careers in female boxing in the scope of the financed project BAFHTA.

Research Aims:

• Enhance female athletes’ health literacy and support long-term health management
  • Investigate the interaction between sex-specific physiological and endocrinological factors and concussion recovery
  • Develop digital tools to monitor individual risk profiles and inform safety protocol implementation
  • Design inclusive and accessible educational materials for athletes, coaches, and medical teams

@BoxeFem360 is committed to bridging the gender gap in sports science and promoting athlete-centered innovation in combat sports research.

See more on insta @BoxeFem360 and BAFHTA website.

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