Common Medical Concerns of the Female Athlete

Women are increasingly participating in more and more sporting activities. For years, women athletes have been treated as the "female" equivalent of male athletes, with similar medical approaches but this is changing. The concept that women are unique in their "athletic arena" is further underscored with emerging scientific evidence--from the physiologic details not visible to the eye, to the more overt biomechanical and anatomic differences. We review a handful of conditions active women potentially may encounter: pregnancy, the female athlete triad, patellofemoral pain, potential injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, and anemia.