Ultrasound of sports injuries of the musculoskeletal system: gender differences

In recent years, women and girls are increasing their sport participation, and female sports are becoming more challenging. While more women and girls are participating in sports, there is still a lack of information about gender-specific lesions. We will therefore evaluate gender differences in sports injuries, analyzing the five sports and sporting activities that are most widespread in the western world: running, soccer, basketball, water sports, and winter sports. The ability to make correct ultrasonographic diagnoses in sports injuries is improving as the technology is advancing. Ultrasonography demonstrates tissue structure with two-dimensional grayscale images, while blood flow can be visualized with color and power Doppler. Furthermore, ultrasonography is the preferred imaging modality for studying soft-tissue lesions dynamically. High-quality diagnostic ultrasound cannot be performed without the knowledge of the underlying clinical background, and an understanding of gender-specific injuries and mechanisms of injuries is therefore important for assessing proper diagnostic and treatment guidelines tailored to phenotypic differences in professional and amateur athletes between male and female.