Common Medical Concerns of the Female Athlete

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) and knee injuries: current concepts for female athletes

In athletes, a mismatch between caloric intake and energy expended in exercise can eventually lead to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), where the athlete suffers from physiological derangements and decreased sport performance. The prevalence of REDs is higher in females than males. Females are already at a higher risk of knee injuries, which has been attributed to a multitude of factors such as hormonal influences, differences in musculoskeletal anatomy and neuromuscular control compared to males. The literature demonstrates an even higher risk of knee injuries in female athletes with symptoms of REDs. We propose the various factors that influence this risk. A reduction in anabolic hormones can affect muscle development and tendon repair. A relationship between poor neuromuscular control and knee injury has been established, and this can be further worsened in patients with menstrual dysfunction. Chronic deficiency in nutrients such as collagen and vitamin D can result in poorer recovery from microtrauma in tendons and ligaments. All these factors may contribute to increasing the risk of knee injuries, which may include anterior cruciate ligament tears, patella tendinopathy and patellofemoral pain syndrome. This review aims to educate sports clinicians to have a high index of suspicion when treating knee injuries in females; to screen and then manage for REDs if present, for holistic patient care.

Gender equality challenges in orthopaedic surgery: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Several studies have examined gender-equality challenges and ways to improve women's representation and management. Orthopaedic surgeons and patients are less gender equitable than them of other surgical disciplines. This systematic review summarizes these findings and highlights orthopaedic surgery gender inequality.

METHODS

Search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was carried out to extract human studies investigating the gender gap in orthopaedics, trying to highlight the equality challenges orthopaedic surgery faces. Studies incorporating patients with comorbidities in which gender is a proven risk factor, and pregnant women were excluded.

RESULTS

This systematic review included 59 studies involving 692,435 people (mean females/males ratio: 4.44), spanning the years 1987-2023. Regarding the targeted population, 35 (59.32%) studies focused on patients, while 24 (40.68%) on physicians. Orthopaedic surgery is described as an unfriendly career field for women as surgeons or sports leading physicians while women are generally under represented in the academic field of orthopaedics. Regarding patients, female gender consists both a risk and prognostic factor influencing the prevalence of degenerative disease and the outcome of the operative treatment in reconstructive orthopaedics. Female gender is a risk factor for multiple sports injuries and influences the pathogenetic mechanisms resulting in ACL reconstruction. Regarding spine surgery, women are less likely to have surgery suggested, and such suggestion underlines severe disease's progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Gender differences affect orthopaedic patient-physician-healthcare system interactions. Recognizing biases and their patterns is useful to improve the actual situation. By preventing those an unbiased, tolerant, and egalitarian workplace for physicians and a healthcare system that provides the best treatment to patients could be created.

Optimizing Health and Athletic Performance for Women

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The exponential growth of women participating in competitive sports throughout the years was made possible through several initiatives by the International Olympic Committee and the passage and implementation of Title IX as a federal law in the United States. However, this positive trend towards gender equity in sports has not transpired for women in medicine, especially in fields that care for elite athletes. This current review will discuss specific areas that can be tailored to help female athletes prevent injuries and optimize their athletic performance. We will also highlight how increased female team physician representation in sports may help optimize care for female athletes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Female athletes are considered high risk for certain conditions such as ACL tears, patellofemoral pain syndrome, bone stress injuries, sport-related concussions, and sexual violence in sport. Addressing factors specific to female athletes has been found to be valuable in preventing injuries. Strength and conditioning can optimize athletic performance but remains underutilized among female athletes. Although diversity in healthcare workforce has been found to be beneficial for multiple reasons, women remain underrepresented in sports medicine. Increasing female team physician representation may positively impact care for female athletes. Team physicians must understand the physiologic, biomechanical, and anatomic factors that are unique to female athletes in order to tailor injury prevention programs and optimize their athletic performance. Advocating for gender equity in sports medicine to advance representation of women in the field will increase workforce diversity and promote excellence in sports medicine care.

[Musculoskeletal laboratory diagnostics in competitive sport]

Hintergrund

Die labordiagnostische Untersuchung stellt eine wichtige Möglichkeit zur Beurteilung und Optimierung der Leistungs- und Regenerationsfähigkeit professioneller Athleten dar. Ferner ist sie für die Prävention, Diagnostik und Rehabilitation von Verletzungen und Überbelastungen von Bedeutung.

Fragestellung

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Darstellung muskuloskelettaler laborchemischer Parameter, die relevante Erkenntnisse für die medizinische Betreuung von Leistungssportlern liefern.

Material und Methoden

Literaturrecherche und narratives Review.

Ergebnisse

Die Bestimmung des Vitamin-D-, Calcium- und Knochenstoffwechsels stellt die laborchemische Basisdiagnostik im Rahmen der Beurteilung des Skelettstatus mit zusätzlichem präventivem Nutzen bezüglich muskuloskelettaler Verletzungen dar. Ferner können muskuläre Serummarker, z. B. Laktatdehydrogenase (LDH), Kreatinkinase (CK), Myoglobin und Aspartat-Aminotransferase (ASAT), helfen, eine metabolische Adaptation an das physische Training festzustellen und Aussagen über die muskuläre Arbeitslast und mögliche Schädigungen zu gewinnen. Die Energieverfügbarkeit kann durch eine entsprechende Bilanzierung sowie die laborchemische Bestimmung der Makro- und Mikronährstoffe eingeschätzt und optimiert werden.

Schlussfolgerungen

Die labordiagnostische Untersuchung besitzt in der Betreuung von Athleten eine sportartenübergreifende klinische Relevanz. Sie dient der Erreichung einer höchstmöglichen Leistungsfähigkeit sowie optimalen Prävention von Knochen- und Muskelverletzungen, wobei sämtliche Mangelzustände (z. B. Vitamin D) ausgeglichen werden sollten. Durch eine Periodisierung der laborchemischen Untersuchungen, mit zumindest zwei Labordiagnostiken im Jahr, und Aufstellung individueller Variabilitäts- und Referenzbereiche kann ferner eine bessere Beurteilbarkeit erreicht werden.