Women are center stage on today’s playing fields. From Team USA sending more women than men to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games to the record-breaking viewership of the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament, women’s involvement in elite sports is growing with no signs of slowing down.
Beginning in January 2025, the city of Houston becomes home to one of League One Volleyball’s (LOVB) inaugural professional teams. Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics has been named Official Medical Provider for the team. A first-of-its- kind NBA sports partnership, this new partnership blends renowned orthopedic care with the growing and evolving medical needs of professional women athletes.
Memorial Hermann understands the specialized needs of women athletes goes beyond orthopedics. That’s why Memorial Hermann is creating a team of uniquely qualified clinicians to deliver care focused on women’s unique needs. Memorial Hermann Medical Group’s Kathy Nguyen, MD, a dual-board certified family medicine and sports medicine physician, will lead the Memorial Hermann care team, overseeing a range of clinical needs, including orthopedics as well as primary care, prenatal/postnatal guidance, and overall health and well-being.
Innovative Partnership Offers Specialized Care for Women Athletes
The new LOVB Houston Volleyball team is anchored by two-time Olympic medalists and US National Team players Micha Hancock and Jordan Thompson. LOVB functions with a unique community-up approach, training women athletes from the club level to professional. With the new partnership, Memorial Hermann will be integrated into community events with a focus on education and injury prevention, preparing the next generation of girls to compete into adulthood.
“We are incredibly honored that LOVB Houston has entrusted Memorial Hermann with their medical care moving forward,” said Timothy Couture, vice president of the Orthopedic Service Line at Memorial Hermann. “Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics’ team of affiliated physicians, orthopedic surgeons, therapists and trainers will be providing these athletes with the highest quality of care that will allow them to perform at peak levels.”
Memorial Hermann recognizes the different needs women athletes have compared to their male counterparts. Head team physician Dr. Kathy Nguyen brings a wealth of experience in caring for professional women athletes with a proactive approach to serving both orthopedic and primary care needs. As a six-season chief medical officer for the Houston Dash professional women’s soccer team, Dr. Nguyen was selected to care for the LOVB Houston Volleyball team for both her clinical excellence and comprehensive understanding of what the players need to succeed on and off the court.
“As head team physician, my involvement is all things medical,” says Dr. Nguyen. “Before the season starts, I’ll be looking at past medical and surgical histories, as well as heart-health history and previous concussions to ensure we follow up on any previous issues before the women are fully cleared to play.”
When the season begins, Dr. Nguyen and her team will be on the sideline at each game to care for on-court injuries. She is prepared for volleyball-specific needs, including upper-extremity injuries of the shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands, as well as lower-extremity concerns like knee and ankle sprains. Dr. Nguyen will also see patients weekly in the training room. “Visiting the players in the onsite medical facility where they practice makes it convenient to address any concerns,” Dr. Nguyen says. “I am their go-to for any medical needs.” -Focused Care
Women’s unique anatomy necessitates specially focused care for optimal athletic performance. “A preventive focus is essential for female athletes. If their muscle strength and neuromuscular coordination are not where they need to be, the risk of injury is higher than it is for males,” says Dr. Nguyen.
Women’s hormonal makeup leads to ligament laxity and a higher rate of ligament injuries, including sprains and tears. Women also face a shift in energy levels and muscle-mass performance during the menstrual cycle. To address these situations, Dr. Nguyen focuses on adjusting nutritional goals to meet varying needs and emphasizes the importance of targeted pre-participation training.
The Memorial Hermann team also addresses each player’s overall health needs, including the possibility of family planning. “When an athlete plans for pregnancy, we develop a platform to prepare for their postpartum needs and what it will take to get them back to playing,” Dr. Nguyen says. “The industry is heavily focused on finding ways to help women return to their professional-playing physical abilities without pushing too soon after childbirth. It’s a balancing act and the right plan for strength and performance training to optimize their return without risking fatigue or reduced milk supply is critical to women’s future success.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Medicine in Girls’ and Women’s Sports
The rise in professional women’s sports means an increased focus on athletic development for younger girls who are interested in a future sports career. The Memorial Hermann-LOVB Houston partnership will address the health needs of club-level volleyball players, emphasizing preventive health measures and injury prevention.
Dr. Nguyen says girls should focus on nutrition as the basis for good health and athletic potential. Physicians often face a headwind of social-media influence on girls’ views of nutrition and proper eating for athletes. Education and meal-planning assistance is essential for girls to learn the right foods and quantities for sufficient energy levels, muscle building and growth.
On the injury front, today’s trend of single-sport specialization and extensive practice routines for younger athletes may lead to overuse injuries. Dr. Nguyen hopes to create awareness of the risk of injury from repetitive movements and to educate coaches on ways to optimize training while understanding when it’s time to scale back. “We don’t want a career-ending injury before a girl reaches the collegiate level,” she says.
Memorial Hermann’s partnership with LOVB Houston will serve as an industry example for delivering preventive and medical care to help women athletes compete at their highest level. With a combination of Dr. Nguyen’s experience caring for professional women’s teams and Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedics’ innovative care model, Houston’s girls and women are receiving highly specialized care and guidance to enhance performance leading up to and at the professional level.
