Menstruation: the last great sporting taboo

Paula Cocozza: When Heather Watson crashed out of the Australian Open this week, she put her poor performance down to starting her period – publicly breaking the silence on an issue that affects all sportswomen. But why is it still something we never hear about?

Should I let my child play rugby?

Luisa Dillner: A consultant at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children says the sport exposes youngsters to severe physical injury. So how dangerous is it?

Baroness Campbell: young people’s physical inactivity ‘bleak and worrying’

Baroness Sue Campbell, the chair of the Youth Sport Trust, says physical education and sport in schools must be prioritised if Britain is to fight back against child obesity

Inside Sydney’s female body-building scene

Competitors eat 10 meals a day, don’t drink and are disparaged for being ‘ugly’ – yet Sydney’s female body building competitions are thriving

Experience: I chose to amputate my leg

Erez Avramov: ‘The hospital wanted to throw away the leg, which seemed disrespectful after 40 years together; I wanted it cremated’

London Olympics borough is the most physically inactive in England

Nearly 40% of people in Newham take no exercise at all, suggesting Games failed to inspire people to take part in sport

Caught on camera: the homophobic world of surfing

A new documentary shines a light on gay surfers around the world, and finds secret lives, struggles for sponsorship – and even suicides. Will Coldwell reports

Heel striking – is it really the enemy of good running form?

Heel striking has had a bad press, blamed by many for a tendency to cause injury. But is forefoot running always best? Sam Murphy sifts the evidence

Should I use sports drinks?

Luisa Dillner: Sporting stars promote them as healthy and performance-enhancing alternatives to water. But is there any evidence to support the claim?

Is rugby now too dangerous for children?

Rugby is a tough, physical sport and injuries are a major part of it. But are the risks too high? Should we stop our children playing the game? Tim Lewis investigates

OurChemist

Our Chemist – Health