Musculoskeletal health considerations for the transgender athlete

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background In addition to the familiar sports-related injuries and conditions experienced by cisgender athletes, transgender athletes may also face unique challenges to maintaining their musculoskeletal health. Encouraging sports medicine professionals to become familiar with accepted nomenclature and terminology related to transgender athletes will enable open communication on the field, in the athletic training facility, and office. Objective Understanding contemporary medical and surgical gender-affirming treatments and the unique ways in which the musculoskeletal system might be affected by each – such as impairments in bone health, changes in ligamentous function and the potential increased risk for deep venous thromboembolism – is essential for provision of optimal musculoskeletal care to transgender athletes. Knowledge of the existing participation policies for transgender athletes is also key for enabling sports medicine professionals to effectively counsel athletes about the need for specialized protective equipment. Additionally, this knowledge is important for appropriately managing therapeutic use exemptions in the competitive sports setting. Conclusion This article provides an overview of the current accepted nomenclature, common gender-affirming medical and surgical treatments, unique musculoskeletal health considerations, and participation policies for transgender athletes.