Female Athletes and the ACL
BALTIMORE--In their session this morning, Timothy E. Hewett, PhD, FACSM and Terry Malone, PT, EdD, ATC, FAPTA, discussed how and why female athletes who participate in jumping and pivoting sports are 4 to 6 times more likely to sustain a knee ligament injury, such as ACL injury, than male athletes.
Years ago, Dr. Malone stubled upon this gender difference and wanted to find out more about it. In order to attract athletes to his study, he didn't sell the concept on the idea that he was going to prevent injury. "The emphasis was on enhanced performance," he said.
Dr. Malone chose to study ACL injuries in basketball teams across the country. He found that women were 6.19 times more likely to tear their ACL in intercollegiate basketball during a season.
Some factors to consider when comparing male to female ACL injuries:
- Strength (women's hamstrings are not as strong);
- Training;
- Posture (women have a tendency to be more comfortable when vertical);
- Stiffness;
- Hamstring tissue (male/female hamstring flexibility).
The audience was shown various photographs of men versus women in basketball playing postures. All photos showed men in a more flexed position than women. "If you keep your knees down and stay bent, you almost cannot damage your ACL," Dr. Malone told the audience.
"Women tend to demonstrate neuromuscular imbalances," added Dr. Hewett. Women and girls also tend to be more leg and quad dominant than men and boys.
Is it possible to use training and strengthening to help prevent ACL injury, Dr. Malone asked the audience. "Early results show this is possible," he answered.
For a more comprehensive summary on this session, be sure to read our conference wrap coming soon in an ADVANCE print issue.