Up, Down ... Snap!

By Alis Brown
HoopGurlz Columnist
Posted Tue, 05/08/2007 - 21:14 The first of two parts on ACL injuries, exploring the reasons why female athletes are more prone to them.

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Knee injuries have reached what some call epidemic proportions among female athletes. One in 10 college female athletes and one in 100 high school female athletes will experience debilitating injuries to the knee. While many structures of the knee are involved in movement, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most important and most frequently injured of the knee ligaments.

What causes ACL injury:

The ACL can be injured if your knee is hyperextended, twisted, or bent side to side. The risk of injury is higher if a combination of these movements occurs at one time. An ACL injury frequently occurs in sports when the foot is firmly planted on the ground and a sudden force is applied to the knee while the leg is straight or slightly bent. Examples of this include changing direction rapidly, slowing down when running, and landing from a jump. ACL injury is common in athletes who play sports that require stop-and-go movements, jumping or weaving through other players. Sound familiar?

Some contributing factors to more prevalent ACL injuries among females than males are said to be:

• Women have a wider pelvis than men increasing the risk of ACL injury especially when landing from a jump.
• Females have greater joint flexablility than males - “looser knees," greater hip rotation and knee hyperextension, making it more difficult for the supporting structures at the back of the knee and leg to protect the ACL.
• Hormonal changes: Although how hormones affect the ACL is not fully understood medically, women are said to be at greater risk of ACL injury during the ovulation phase of their cycle.

While by no means do these anatomical differences create a disadvantage for females, it does allow us to strengthen our game by thinking and training our bodies from the all-powerful perspective of being female.

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Next: Preventative Measures

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Alis Brown, LMP - Full Body Balancing
Alis has been practicing massage therapy in the Seattle area for more than 10 years. She specializes in Therapeutic Bodywork relating to injury treatment and restorative health. Therapeutic Bodywork is one of the most effective treatments in preventative care and injury recovery chosen by athletes today. Consider adding it to your self-care and preventative maintenance plan. For questions, comments or to schedule an appointment with Alis, call 206-250-0550.