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Researchers recommend proper training for females to prevent ACL ruptures
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Athletic trainers should take the unique anatomical construction of the female knee into consideration during sports training, as female athletes are three times likely to rupture their ACL compared to male athletes, according to results of this study.
“As female athletes have increased their participation in sports, many studies have shown the vulnerability of female athletes to ACL ruptures,” Karen M. Sutton, MD, lead author and assistant professor at Yale University Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, stated in a press release. “This devastating injury has a long recovery period and a slow return to sport. Thus, research has been done focusing on why women are more vulnerable to ACL injuries and how to prevent them.”
The research was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Females are more likely than males to have a smaller A-shaped intercondylar notch which may make ACL reconstruction surgery more challenging, Sutton and colleagues stated. Additionally, an increased quadriceps angle and posterior tibial slope in females could lead to additional ACL injuries, according to the abstract.
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“All female athletes, starting in adolescence, should learn appropriate training techniques,” Sutton said. “This includes the appropriate way to land from a jump, increasing the strength of muscles that could have a protective effect on the ACL – core, gluteal quadriceps and hamstring muscles, as well as working on the body’s reaction to change of direction and change of speed.”
Reference:
Sutton KM. J Am Acad Orthop Sur. 2013;doi:10.5435/JAAOS-21-01-41.
Disclosure: Sutton is an unpaid consultant for Advanced Orthopedic Technologies and SportsMD.