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.

Think concussions are just for boys?  Think again!  In today’s blog post, Dr. Neal Alpiner, The Rehab Doc, shares a personal experience from when he treated a talented, female soccer player.  While female competitiveness can rival that of any male athlete, don’t forget that a concussion is an injury that no fearlessness can overcome.  Check out the post below for insight and share the link with a the parent of a female athlete today!”

Jessica was sitting on the exam table, her mom in the chair next to her. I walked into the room to see this petite 12 year old girl with a slightly dazed look on her face. My first response was you must be a soccer player. She glanced up at me, slightly bothered by the lights in the room, and softly said yep, I play a defenseman.

Girls’ sport injuries, especially concussion, are occurring at an incredibly high rate. I cannot tell you many girls I see that have bruised, bopped, and banged their heads around like the ball used in their very own sports.

The patients who come through my office practice mimic the findings found in a study done in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Trends in Concussion, Incidence in High School Sports.  Girls are rapidly approaching the boys in regards to the total number, incidence and frequency of sport based concussions. Studies reveal girls soccer is only second to boy’s lacrosse in incidence of concussive episodes and another found girls soccer and girls basketball ranked second and fourth.

So for all of you who believe girls cannot play sports, know this. Not only can they play like the boys, but they can get injured like the boys as well.

Dr. Neal Alpiner sees patients daily who may potentially be suffering from concussions.  If someone you know could potentially be affected by this type of injury, make an appointment today but contacting our office at 877-433-7767 or contacting us at therehabdoc@gmail.com.

Season’s Greetings!

Looking back the past year seemed to fly by.  Don’t know about you, but to me it seemed like just yesterday I was creating my list of New Year’s resolutions.  Admittedly, I still have work to do on some of 2011′s list, but already I have made room for my new list of “I know I can do this.”   Always seeming to make my list is that I will make time for the people and things that are important to me AND that I will make sure to convey to them all how much they mean to me. So to my wife and children, friends and family, patients, coworkers and caregivers … thank you for a wonderful year’s past.  My wishes for you all are that you will enjoy a happy, healthy new year filled with joy and happiness.