Women are at a higher risk of injury than men due to their physical characteristics, muscle strength, and hormones.
An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is a condition where the ligament is partially or completely torn due to sudden changes in movement, tripping, or falling that puts strain on the ligament. This is one of the most common sports injuries.
According to orthopedic surgeons, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears during sports are more common in women than men, typically occurring between the ages of 15 and 45. Patients will experience pain, especially when trying to stand or walk. Swelling around the knee will appear within the first 24 hours after the injury.
Women are more prone to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears than men when playing sports such as badminton, tennis, and soccer... Photo: Freepik
According to Dr. Tang Ha Nam Anh, Director of the Orthopedic Trauma Center at Tam Anh General Hospital System, women are more prone to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears during sports than men, mainly due to their body structure. Research on the knee muscles shows that the hamstring muscles behind the knee are less developed in women compared to the quadriceps femoris. Women's legs also don't develop as evenly as men's.
Analysis of the landing posture of men and women in sports has shown that women tend to stand upright while men bend their knees and hips. This posture in men causes the body to contract, thereby minimizing the impact force on the knees.
Furthermore, in women, the knee structure tends to be outward-tilted and the hips more adducted, so upon landing, women's knees tend to bend inward, easily leading to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Several differences between women and men, such as ligament size, degree of femoral condylar defect, and levels of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and relaxin, are also considered factors that increase the risk of ligament injury in women.
At the World Conference on Sports Injuries held in Hong Kong, medical experts presented several exercises to prevent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, especially in women, including: exercises involving sudden acceleration and deceleration; sideways and high jumps; exercises involving landing on both feet with knees slightly bent and hips flexed to reduce impact force upon landing... Other exercises were also suggested, such as exercises to strengthen the hamstring muscles behind the knee to stabilize the knee, and exercises to develop muscles evenly in both legs.
Doctor Nam Anh (center) during a surgery to treat a ligament injury. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital.
Dr. Nam Anh further shared that, in addition to strengthening leg muscles through exercises, both men and women should note the following to prevent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries: warm up thoroughly before playing sports, exercise within their capabilities, and maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
Upon detecting warning signs of ligament damage, patients should consult a doctor for timely treatment to reduce the risk of developing complications such as meniscal tears, articular cartilage damage, tibial plateau displacement leading to knee instability, increased risk of knee arthritis, and ultimately, early osteoarthritis of the knee. Depending on the extent of the damage, the doctor may prescribe conservative treatment or surgery.
In cases requiring surgery, the most appropriate time is between 7 and 60 days after the ligament is torn. Despite the high risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tearing during sports, the success rate of ligament reconstruction and the ability to return to sports are the same for both men and women.
Phi Hong
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