Idiopathic scoliosis and spondylolysis can be common back problems in femal
e athletes. Diagnosis and treatment can be difficult. With the notable tren
d toward increasing participation of women and girls in organized sports, i
t is necessary to know which sports carry additional risks for participants
to have these two conditions develop and to determine treatment modalities
. In general, idiopathic scoliosis is more prevalent in females and even ma
y be higher in the athletes. Treatment options may include observation, the
use of a brace, and surgery. In determining treatment, the type of sport a
nd caliber of athlete must be considered in conjunction with the severity o
f the curve. Spondylolysis or a stress fracture of the posterior vertebral
elements can be a common cause of back pain in an athlete, In many sports t
hat are dominated by females (gymnastics, dancing, figure skating), the ath
letes carry a high risk of having spondylolysis or a stress fracture. Knowi
ng the risk factors permits precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment, Tr
eatment options include the use of a brace and surgery. In the current stud
y, an extensive review of the literature in conjunction with the extensive
experience of a well-established sports medicine clinic at the authors' ins
titution is presented.