Girls are More Likely to Suffer from ACL Tears Than Boys

Female athletes are tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at a frightening rate. In fact, girls are two to eight times more likely to suffer a tear of their ACL than male athletes. There are a number of reasons why this injury is becoming more common in female athletes, including:

• The number of girls participating in competitive sports has increased greatly over the years.
• Coaches may not be teaching their female athletes appropriate exercises and drills that could help prevent ACL tears.
• A female athlete's body structure -- wider hips than a male, for example -- could contribute to the tendency for ACL tears.
• When girls land after jumping, they tend to do so with straight knees. Males, on the other hand, are more likely to land in a crouched position, which puts less pressure on their knees.

Treatment for ACL Tears

If a female athlete feels a popping sensation in her knee, followed by sharp pain, she may have torn her ACL, which is one of the ligaments that connects her femur (thigh bone) with her tibia (shin bone). If so, the female athlete will need to:

• See an orthopedic medicine New Haven as soon as possible. The orthopedic doctor will first do an examination of the knee. Then, he will probably order X-rays to rule out any broken bones as well as an MRI to determine if the ACL and/or other ligaments have been torn.
• Rest the injured leg. The female athlete should avoid putting weight on the leg and will need to use crutches to get around.
• Apply ice to the knee to reduce swelling. However, ice should never be applied directly on the skin.
• Keep the knee elevated when she is resting.

ACL Surgery

The athlete will need to discuss with her orthopedic doctor whether or not to have surgery to repair her ACL. If the girl plans to continue doing sports that require sharp turns or a lot of stopping and starting -- such as soccer or basketball -- the physician will probably recommend surgery. ACL surgery is typically done on an outpatient basis.

After ACL Surgery

If a female athlete decides to undergo ACL surgery, she will then need physical therapy for a number of weeks afterwards so that she can regain her range of motion and so that her knee can heal properly. The healing process is typically rather lengthy, and it could take a number of months to a year before an athlete can return to playing sports once again.