Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Athletes

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur most frequently in planting and cutting sports such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball. National Collegiate Athletic Association injury data show that female athletes injure the ACL more frequently than their male counterparts do. The greater incidence of ACL injuries in women probably stems from complex, interrelated factors, possibly including hamstring-quadriceps strength imbalances, joint laxity, and the use of ankle braces. Successful treatment often includes surgery.

Gender Differences among Sagittal Plane Knee Kinematic and Ground Reaction Force Characteristics during a Rapid Sprint and Cut Maneuver

“…anterior cruciate ligament; cutting; female athletes; knee injury Female athletes are at greater risk of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than male athletes in sports involving sudden deceleration, landing, and cutting (Arendt & Dick, 1995;Dehaven & Lintner, 1986;Gray et al, 1985;Moeller & Lamb, 1997;Zelisko, Noble, & Porter, 1982). Numerous studies have investigated the nature of ACL injuries and possible explanations for the differences in injury rates between genders.…”

“…valgus, femoral anteversion, tibial rotation, pelvis width; Loudon, Jenkins, & Loudon, 1996;Moeller & Lamb, 1997), muscular strength and conditioning levels (Hutchinson & Ireland, 1995;Moeller & Lamb, 1997). neuromuscular performance characteristics (Huston & Wojtys, 1996;Nyland Shapiro, Caborn.…”

Tibiofemoral Joint Positioning for the Valgus Stress Test

“…Still other clinicians 11,32,33 believed there were good reasons to perform the VST with the tibiofemoral joint in full extension to assess the injured MCL. A small increase in joint displacement at 06 of flexion would indicate complete MCL compromise, whereas gross instability would indicate complete MCL rupture with capsular or ACL rupture, 32 and extreme valgus opening would indicate a possible PCL rupture. 11 Our study supports the notion that, for diagnostic purposes, it is beneficial to test the medial tibiofemoral joint both in full extension and at up to 106 of flexion manually.…”

Effect of Prophylactic Knee Bracing on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Agonist and Antagonist Muscle Forces During Perturbed Walking

“…15 Rehabilitation from ACL injuries is very expensive, and these injuries often result in pain, predisposition to osteoarthritis and other morbidities, quadriceps (QUADS) weakness and other neuromuscular deficiencies, and other long-term effects that present as a major rehabilitation challenge. 40 As a result, researchers have focused on injury prevention, such as neuromuscular training programs, that aim to strengthen and alter dangerous neuromuscular coordination patterns to prevent injuries. 26 The QUADS 11,13,35,39,43 and gastrocnemius (GAS) 1,13,19,42 are known as ACL antagonists and have been shown to contribute to ACL tears through anterior tibial translation (ATT) in cadavers, at low flexion angles.…”