Current topics in women's sports medicine: Evaluation and treatment of the female athlete

The passing of Title IX in 1972 has led to a rapid increase in the number of female athletes, and with this, the field of women's sports medicine has continued to grow. As the number and type of female athletes continue to increase, our role as sports medicine surgeons is to meet the needs of this rapidly changing field by improving our knowledge of the injuries, treatments, and outcomes that are specific to this population. Our understanding of injury prevention and long-term outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament injuries is still evolving, yet this is a clear area for future study in female athletes. The role of gender in concussions and its relationship to musculoskeletal injuries continues to be explored. The unique element of pregnancy in athletes, which is gaining increasing attention, leads to a greater need for multidisciplinary care. Because of this, close collaboration with specialists, who can augment our knowledge of the treatment of sports medicine conditions, and maintaining awareness of the rapidly changing field of women's sports medicine will allow us to continually improve care for female athletes.