Why do we need a Women’s Sports Medicine Program?

Why do we need a Women’s Sports Medicine Program?

• Female athletes are 4-8 times more likely to sustain a tear of the ACL than their male counterparts. Characteristic movement patterns and muscle weaknesses can cause females to be at greater risk for specific injuries in the lumbopelvic, hip and knee region.
• Disordered eating is a common problem in female athletes. Whether intentional or not, alterations in diet and energy availability can lead to serious metabolic consequences that can result in bone injury and subsequent medical conditions.
• Pregnancy is a unique challenge for female athletes, with growing knowledge about the safety of exercise, susceptibility of certain musculoskeletal conditions and the treatment of sports medicine injuries in the peripartum period.
• Cardiovascular considerations and performance measures in exercise tolerance are different in women than in male counterparts.
• Females appear to be more likely to suffer from prolonged symptoms after sustaining a concussion when compared to males.
• Studies suggest that males and females may have different patterns of psychological profiles that may potentially affect postoperative recovery and return to play.

Our multidisciplinary team of experts focuses on the female athlete to provide comprehensive care, and to study and address all of the varied factors that may interact to influence injuries and treatment outcomes in women. We provide education not only to patients, but to coaches and other providers, who aim to learn more about recent advances in female athlete care.