Women’s sports, whether played at the high school, collegiate, or professional levels, have never been more thrilling than they are right now. But ACL tears and other orthopedic problems, which are more common in women than males, come along with the excitement of the court or the field.
ACL is one of four crucial ligaments that support and stabilize the knee. The ACL is a stretchable band of tissue that runs diagonally down the center of the knee. If it is overstretched, it can sprain or rupture, which results in pain and instability. You won’t be able to bear any weight on your knee if it completely tears. Consequently, you may need to find an ACL surgeon for an operation on your knee so that you can return to your sports activities.
According to estimates, female athletes are believed to get ACL injuries two to six times more frequently than male competitors. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine states that 15 to 19 years old are the peak ages for these injuries. Here is why:
Different maneuvering techniques
Women athletes are more vulnerable to injury because of differences in how they move during a leap or cut between male and female competitors. Men often engage their hamstrings first, whereas women typically engage their quadriceps. The amount of strain put on the ACL and other knee ligaments may change as a result of this variation in activation.
In addition, women typically land with their knees closer together than men after a leap. The risk of ACL damage is lower in athletes who land with their knees more apart.
Physical reasons
Women’s ACLs are smaller than men’s, which makes them more prone to injury at the intercondylar notch, or groove in the femur, through which it passes. Additionally, women’s pelvises are typically wider than men’s, which makes them bend their knees farther toward the middle of the body. Due to this position, the knee is more susceptible to buckling and ACL damage. Additionally, women’s ligaments are more elastic than men’s; hence they are more vulnerable to twisting and stretching.
Biomechanical reasons
According to biomechanics, women frequently land on their feet’s soles rather than their balls, which causes their knees to absorb more shock than their calf muscles. Women also tend to run more uprightly than males, which limits their ability to control how their knee rotates.
Additionally, women rely more on their quads for acceleration and control because they typically have stronger quadriceps than hamstrings. This puts additional strain on their knees than if their hamstrings were longer.
Training properly can help prevent injuries.
Studies demonstrate that training regimens overseen by sports medicine specialists enhance athletes’ leg strength and jump-landing skills.
Proper training in basketball, volleyball, and soccer lowers the incidence of ACL injuries. The methods that increase ACL safety can also boost performance and vertical jump height, acceleration, and direction-changing ability.
Additionally, training in the following areas can lower the chance of injury:
- Strengthening the core muscles
- Learning how to jump and land properly
- Enhancing agility, speed, and balance.
Nothing can completely guard against ACL injury. However, identifying their potential origins and enhancing preventive measures can stop the “pop” and its annoying effects.