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Epidemiologic studies reveal the rate of
female ACL injuries greater than the rate of
male ACL injuries, particularly in sports that
involve sudden deceleration, landing from a
jump, and pivoting. The majority of ACL
injuries are noncontact in nature.
Epidemiologic studies over a 10 year period
of time using NCAA data places the risk of a
female injuring her ACL in soccer or basket-
ball at a 2-3 times greater rate than that of
their male counterpart (fig. 1 & 2) [1].
Research to date has focused on anatomic
risk factors, hormonal risk factors and bio-
mechanical/ neuromuscular risk factors.
HORMONAL RISK FACTORS
Although hormones continue to be the most
obvious difference between males and
females, there has been no evidence to date
that there is a hormonal effect on knee func-
tion at the macroscopic or material proper-
ties levels [10, 3]. The most studied hormone
has been estrogen. Recently relaxin has been
implicated as it is a powerful hormone
known for ligament relaxation. Studies sug-
gest that females are at a greater risk of ACL
177
ACL INJURIES:
ARE FEMALES MORE AT RISK?
E. ARENDT
Fig. 1
Fig. 2