When I am seeing patients in my office I sound like a broken record. Whenever, a young female athlete comes in to see me, no matter what the reason the come in (concussion, shoulder injury, back pain…), I inevitably will lean back in my chair and say, “Do you know that you are 6 times more likely to blow out your knee than your male counterparts?”
The statistics are alarming when it comes to knee injuries in the youung female athlete. When I tell my female patients this important fact, they typically respond that they know someone who had surgerythe last summer.
Why girls are more likely to get injured relates to several possible factors:
Anatomic: female pelvis has a forward tilt, is broader; hip-to-knee angle is different in females wider; knee meniscus and knee geometry is more narrow
Hormonal: ACL complex has estrogen receptors that alter the ligaments firmness
Biomechanical: girls land more stiff-legged, less bent, less bounce
What can be done to prevent these injuries.
- First, condition well. Learn proper landing, jumping and knee sensory techniques.
- Second, don’t try to do things beyond your skill level. Always beware of what your body can and cannot do.
- Third, give your body breaks. Training year round, doing school and travel squads without relative-rest will place your body in a fatigue state leading to injury.
Remember, always play smart … use your mind first.
