Sports medicine care for female athletes
Did you know that women are eight times more likely to have anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than men and are twice as likely to experience ankle sprains? At UT Health San Antonio, we understand that every athlete is built differently. Female athletes are setting records, pushing boundaries and competing at higher levels than ever before. That’s why we’ve assembled a specialized team that understands the female athlete’s unique needs — all to get you back to the activities you love as soon as possible.
Common conditions in female athletes of all ages
Women are typically born with looser connective tissue. That allows for a greater range of motion and flexibility but may also increase their risk of injury. This can affect women of all ages and present as pain or instability in many areas such as the shoulder, hip, knee or ankle. In fact, ACL tears of the knee are one of the most common injuries that occur in female athletes.
Active females are also more prone to overuse injuries. Stress injuries most commonly affect the bones and the tendons surrounding them. These injuries can be caused by repetitive motion such as high mileage running, golf or tennis. For many women, stress injuries can manifest in issues like tennis elbow and heel pain. If pain is limiting your lifestyle, seeking treatment early can help keep you stay active.
Particularly as women age, they are at risk of losing bone density. Estrogen, the hormone present in women that helps protect bones, decreases sharply as women age. Women may also experience a decrease in muscle mass. While low bone density may initially cause minor side effects, it can lead to more serious injuries. Bone density and muscle mass can be preserved by regularly engaging in weight-bearing exercise (such as lifting weights or walking) and consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Our team of physicians focused on women's health can help develop a personalized injury-prevention protocol.
Specialized care for your needs
“Female athletes are a strong and unique group. They are knowledgeable, adaptive and intuitive, and they should trust those instincts. If pain or another limitation is affecting your activity, our team at UT Health San Antonio can provide a comprehensive evaluation and recommend treatment and prevention strategies designed specifically for women,” said Leah Brown, MD, lead orthopaedic surgeon for the San Antonio Spurs at UT Health San Antonio.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for quickly getting you back to the activities you love. We offer both non-surgical and surgical treatments, and our team is here to provide you with personalized, cutting-edge care. We are proud to have several females as part of our orthopaedic team who understand the distinctive needs of active women who have also overcome personal orthopedic injuries.
To learn more about UT Health San Antonio's orthopaedic and sports medicine program, visit UTHealthcare.org/sportsmedicine or call 210-450-9300 to make an appointment with one of our specialists.