Lindsey Robinson, a 16-year-old high school soccer player, tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a soccer game. Interestingly, she wasn't the only one on her team to injure her ACL, but several of her teammates also tore the same ligament during the football season. Lephart (2002) found that women involved in physical activity are more susceptible to acquiring anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than men involved in the same physical activity (as cited in Ogden, 2002). According to “ACL Injury Prevention” (2004), the number of female anterior cruciate ligament tears has increased over the past decade. Over 1.4 million women have suffered anterior cruciate ligament tears, double the rate compared to the previous decade. Therefore, female anterior cruciate ligament injuries are now a growing problem in the nation (Anonymous, 2004). In the 1950s and 1960s, female participation in sport was rare; therefore, the injury rate was very low. However, according to “ACL Injuries and Female Athletes” (n.d.), with the implementation of Title IX in 1972, female participation in numerous sports increased dramatically. Additionally, the rate of acquired anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries has also increased markedly (Anonymous, n.d.). In terms of comparing the rate of acquisition of anterior cruciate ligament injuries between two sexes, females have a higher rate than males. According to the “Physical Therapy Corner” (2007), “women suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries more often than men, nearly 4 times more often in basketball, 3 times more often in gymnastics, and nearly 2.5 times more often in football. ”. ” (Knee Injuries section, paragraph 1). There are various risk factors that contribute to the high rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries for female athletes. External factors such as inadequate paper…half the paper…predisposition to anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Factors such as different anatomical structures, neuromuscular imbalance, and hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle are generally known as potential causes of an increased number of female anterior cruciate ligament injuries. However, these factors are only hypothetical and still subject of study by many researchers and experts. The fact is that anterior cruciate ligament injuries among female athletes are still a growing problem in the nation. What researchers and experts need to do is not only find out the cause, but also design a special preventive program for female anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Many researchers have found that different anatomical structures and neuromuscular imbalance make women more susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. A special training program that emphasizes strengthening the hamstrings could be effective in reducing the risks of developing anterior cruciate ligament injuries for female athletes..
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