Preventing Injuries in the Female Athlete

Loyola University Health System sports medicine physicians are dedicated to enhancing sports performance and getting people back in the game. Each season a LUHS sports medicine expert from our facility in Burr Ridge will offer tips to keep you safe and active. Dr. Pietro Tonino, MD, is the director of the Sports Medicine program for Loyola University Health System and is a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He has extensive experience in the evaluation and treatment of ACL injuries both in male and female athletes and implementation of prevention strategies for ACL injuries.

Preventing Injuries in the Female Athlete

The landmark federal law known as Title IX has opened up sports to millions of girls and young women.

Between 1972, when the law took effect, and 2008, there was a 940 percent increase in the number of female high school athletes, to 3.1 million, and a 456 percent increase in the number of female NCAA varsity athletes, to 167,000, according to the American Association of University Women.

Playing sports has brought significant health benefits. Physical activity can reduce a woman's weight and risk of cancer and other diseases. Sports also can boost self esteem and reduce depression. And playing on a team teaches important life skills, such as working together and perseverance. Female athletes tend to have better grades and higher graduation rates.

But along with these and other benefits, there's a risk of getting injured. And females are especially prone to significant knee injuries. They are 2 to 8 times more likely than males to suffer a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The ACL is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It connects the front of the tibia (shinbone) with the back of the femur (thighbone). It helps provide stability to the knee joint. Patients with torn ACLs often experience their knee "giving out."

Minor ACL tears can be treated nonsurgically. But significant ACL tears require surgery.  An orthopaedic surgeon removes a tendon from the patient's knee and uses it to replace the torn ligament. Surgical instruments and techniques are improving, and ACL surgery is becoming less invasive. Nevertheless, the operation still requires six months of rehab. And the reconstructed knee will never be as good as the God-given knee. ACL injuries also can involve torn cartilage, which can limit motion and lead to arthritis.

We're not certain why female athletes are more prone to ACL injuries. One reason may be related to how they jump. Due to the shape of the female pelvis, females tend to land from a jump with their knees locked. This puts added pressure on the knee. Females also tend to be more knock-kneed -- with knees close together and the ankles far apart.

To reduce the risk of an ACL injury, an athlete should

• Slightly bend the knees and hips when landing
•  Position the buttocks as if you were about to sit down, rather than standing upright
• Land on your forefoot, not your heel
• Strengthen your hamstrings with weight training.

Programs are available to teach proven techniques to prevent ACL injuries. Inquire with your coach or physician.

Next week I’ll share some tips for staying safe while participating in some popular women’s sports.