In a recent article on “The scary reasons women are more likely to tear their ACLs”, Shape.com, a leading lifestyle magazine for women, asked Dr. Armin Tehrany to provide expert insight on ACL injuries in women.
The ACL is the ligament that runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It is one of the most important ligaments in the knee joint as it prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, and it provides rotational stability to the knee. But according to a 2010 study published in the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, women who participate in jumping and pivoting sports are four to six times more prone to ACL tears than men.
As one of the best knee specialists in New York, Dr. Tehrany was asked to explain …show more content…
Tehrany, one of the main reasons for the higher risk of ACL tears in women is the anatomy of the female body. The ACL is the ligament that runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It is one of the most important ligaments in the knee joint as it prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, and it provides rotational stability to the knee.
Because of the wider pelvic in female’s body, the angle between the femur (the thigh bone) and the tibia (the shin bone) is greater, which ultimately leads to a higher risk of occurrence of an ACL Injury.
"A woman has a wider pelvis, so the knee is no longer aligned straight. It's more at an angle, which means the ACL is at more risk for a twisting injury," says Dr. Tehrany.
The second reason for increased possibility of an ACL tear in women is the menstrual cycle. In his statement, Dr. Tehrany noted that women’s ligaments and joints are affected by the hormonal changes that women go through during the menstrual cycle, making them looser.
"Women usually have looser joints and ligaments than men to begin with, and then the menstrual cycle can make them get even looser, which means that during pivoting sports or shifting of the knee, the ACL is under more risk of tearing," adds Dr. Tehrany.
Furthermore, Dr. Tehrany discusses the quad-hamstring balance as a risk factor for an ACL tear in women. The better the balance, the lower the
The ACL is the ligament that runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It is one of the most important ligaments in the knee joint as it prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, and it provides rotational stability to the knee. But according to a 2010 study published in the North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, women who participate in jumping and pivoting sports are four to six times more prone to ACL tears than men.
As one of the best knee specialists in New York, Dr. Tehrany was asked to explain …show more content…
Tehrany, one of the main reasons for the higher risk of ACL tears in women is the anatomy of the female body. The ACL is the ligament that runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It is one of the most important ligaments in the knee joint as it prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, and it provides rotational stability to the knee.
Because of the wider pelvic in female’s body, the angle between the femur (the thigh bone) and the tibia (the shin bone) is greater, which ultimately leads to a higher risk of occurrence of an ACL Injury.
"A woman has a wider pelvis, so the knee is no longer aligned straight. It's more at an angle, which means the ACL is at more risk for a twisting injury," says Dr. Tehrany.
The second reason for increased possibility of an ACL tear in women is the menstrual cycle. In his statement, Dr. Tehrany noted that women’s ligaments and joints are affected by the hormonal changes that women go through during the menstrual cycle, making them looser.
"Women usually have looser joints and ligaments than men to begin with, and then the menstrual cycle can make them get even looser, which means that during pivoting sports or shifting of the knee, the ACL is under more risk of tearing," adds Dr. Tehrany.
Furthermore, Dr. Tehrany discusses the quad-hamstring balance as a risk factor for an ACL tear in women. The better the balance, the lower the