Knee injuries are common in all sports activities, from football to snow skiing, but active women suffer the highest rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The ACL is located in the middle of the knee joint and connects the lower leg bone to the thighbone. When the ACL is injured or torn, the knee becomes unstable, leading to less control in knee movement.
“Active women are up to six times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than their male counterparts,” said Dr. John Gracy, orthopedic specialist at Parkridge East Hospital. “Neuromuscular differences appear to be the leading causes of ACL injuries in females.”
For decades, doctors have focused primarily on hormonal and anatomical factors as the cause of increased ACL injury, but recent studies have led doctors to believe that neuromuscular factors, such as ligament size and muscle strength, are the main source of ACL injury.
“ACL injuries often occur during activities involving pivoting, quickly planting the foot, making sudden stops or landing on a straight leg,” said Dr. Gracy. “Women tend to flex their knees and hamstrings much less than men during a landing or when quickly changing direction, therefore putting more stress on the knee tendons and ligaments than on the surrounding muscles.”
Many women have neuromuscular imbalances, also called ligament dominance, which often cause the excess stress on knee ligaments and tendons. Ligament dominance occurs when ligaments absorb a majority of impact rather than equally spreading it throughout the nearby muscles.
Women also tend to have weaker hamstrings and quadriceps than men, leading to an increased risk of ACL injury. Dr. Gracy recommends strength training to build leg muscles and additional stretching to reduce the risk of ligament pulls and tears.
Another factor leading to ACL injury in women is that they have a smaller ACL than men and a narrower notch through which the ACL travels, possibly shearing the ligament over time. One study concludes that the average man’s ACL is nearly 14 millimeters wider than a woman’s ACL.
Depending on the extent of the injury, doctors may prescribe a knee brace or physical therapy to aid with recovery from your ACL injury. Physical therapists can work with patients to strengthen knee muscles and to regain a full range-of-motion of the knee. Doctors may also recommend surgery to fully restore knee function, especially in younger and athletic people.
“You may consider surgery if your knee constantly gives way during daily activities, and you wish to resume an active lifestyle free of knee problems,” said Dr. Gracy. “You may also consider surgery to prevent further knee injuries.”
Consult your doctor to find out if surgery is an adequate treatment for your knee injury.
For more information about programs and services at Parkridge East Hospital, call MedlineSM at (423) 622-6848 or visit ParkridgeEastHospital.com.
About Parkridge East
A facility of Parkridge Medical Center, Parkridge East Hospital provides a full range of services and specialty centers that include The Birth Place, and The Sleep Well Center. The BirthPlace, a department of Parkridge East, includes a 22-bassinet Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery; an on-site Lactation Center, and beautiful Labor and Delivery suites. The hospital, providing a full range of acute medical services, has also earned a reputation for its Women Center, with services for every stage of life including diagnostic services and specialty women’s surgeries.