One of the potential reasons for women to be susceptible to specific injuries is anatomy. After puberty, the hips of females spread, influence the mechanical axis of the legs, and may change the stress placed on the knees.
This stress can cause either chronic overuse or acute damage such as ACL tears. ACL, which is a strong tissue band that ties the thigh bones to the bone of the knee, can be torn under excessive stress, especially in sports with pivot and jumps such as soccer and basketball.
“Women and girls are more likely to be 2-8 times higher than men in the same sport,” says Franklin. “However, the difference does not appear after puberty. One of the possible reasons is the estrogen and menstrual cycle. Hormone fluctuations that naturally occur in the cycle increase the sensitivity to ACL damage at a specific time. It may be connected. ”
Women’s athletes also tend to be “quad dominant”. In other words, Dr. Franklin says that the quadrice muscles (front of the thighs) are stronger than the hamstring muscles (along the back of the thighs). “If the hamstrings cannot be activated so strongly, the knees can lead to ACL damage, especially if they have twisted or absorbed many power,” she says.
In addition, women tend to land from jumps in a way that can cause injury. “It is called” hard landing “. In other words, it means reducing the knees and hips, and applying more power between ACL and knees. She will have more impacts through your muscles and distribute it evenly. ”
Women are more susceptible to stress fractures and concussions than male friends when comparing the same sports.
“In the case of soccer and basketball, girls are more likely to have concussion than boys, but for example, the boys are soccer, so the total number of boys will be higher in boys,” says Franklin. “I don’t know the reason yet. Research is ongoing.”
