Why Are So Many Females Tearing Their ACLs?

Submitted by tvitiello on Thu, 03/05/2009 - 19:11

ACL tears, sprains and strains among female athletes are an unnecessary and unique epidemic in the United States. The number of reported injuries is staggering! According to a 2006 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “more than 46,000 female athletes age 19 and younger experienced a sprain or strain of the ACL.” Richard Parker, M.D., recently cited findings from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), that “female basketball players are four times as likely to suffer from an ACL tear as male basketball players.” But one of the other major findings is that women are nearly three times more likely to have ACL injuries than men. And some statistics says that a female soccer player is eight times more likely to injury her ACL than a male soccer player. “Over 1.4 million women have been afflicted in the past 10 years alone – twice the rate of the previous decade.”

Other countries are not facing this epidemic, so why here? The answer is simple: we are training female athletes with inferior programs that are destroying their athleticism. Traditionally in this country boys tend to me more active in athletics at a younger age than girls. Because females have traditionally joined athletics later than boys they have not built a foundation in their feet, hamstrings, quads, groin and hip stability.

Peninah Arusei winner 2006 of the 25 kilometers in Berlin Females also tend to be quad dominant which causes muscle imbalance. This forces the knee to become the focal point for all the transitional power and will often times fail because it can't handle the ballistic movements that athletics require. Another factor contributing to the epidemic of ACL injuries is that coaches are using conventional weight training methods such as squats.

The last thing any coach should be concerned about is how much weight their athlete can lift or squat. They should be concerned with who can take the lightest weight and move it the farthest. Building an athlete's foundation is the simplest and most effective way to create a stronger and more athletic athlete. Dr. Jonathan Cluett wrote in his article ACL Injuries in Women that "neuromuscular training programs can lower the risk of ACL injury in female athletes."

In addition to neuromuscular training, it is essential for athletes build the muscles in their feet. They also need to create muscular equilibrium in the hamstrings and quads. Building the muscles in the groin and hips is critical for avoiding injuries.

Our Ballistic Ball Workout and Waterwork training DVDs will help create a solid foundation that properly prepares female athletes to compete at a high level with a greater chance of staying healthy.

References

Cluett, Jonathan M.D. ACL Injuries in Women. In About.com. Retrieved 3/5/09, from, http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/aclrepain/a/acl_4.htm

Fortin,Judy. ACL Injuries Growing Problem For Young Female Athletes. In CNN.com. Retrieved 3/5/09, from, http://www.cnn.com/2007HEALTH/conditions/03/26/hm.acl.girls/index.html

Parker, Richard, M.D. Female Athletes and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries. In infosports.com. Retrieved 3/5/09, from, http:// www.infosports.com/clvclinic/femaleacl.htm

Preventing ACL Injuries in Female Athletes. 7/16/08. In Sports Injury Prevention Pamphlet For Women. Retrieved 3/5/09, from http://neuro-ortho.org/community/2008/07/16/preventing-acl-injuries-in-f...

Sondheimer ,Eric. Campaign Starts to Prevent ACL Injuries in Females. In latimesblogs.latimes.com. Retrieved 3/5/09, from, http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/03/campaign-starts.html

Unruh,Heather. ACL Injuries A Growing Problem For Female Athletes. In thebostonchannel.com. Retrieved 3/5/09, from, http://thebostonchannel.com/health/13715226/detail.html