One of the most common knee injuries is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sprain or tear. The ACL helps stabilize the knee, one of four primary ligaments that act like strong ropes to hold the bones together and keep the knee stable, states the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

“Athletes who participate in high demand sports like soccer, football, and basketball are more likely to injure their ACL,” according to the AAOS.

Additionally, there’s a statistic that may not be so well-known about ACL injuries: Female athletes tear the ACL at an alarmingly higher rate than men in certain sports, explains Harlan Selesnick, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Baptist Health Orthopedic Care. 

Last month, Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink suffered a torn ACL in her left knee during a game against the Connecticut Sun, causing her to miss the rest of her WNBA rookie season and the Paris Olympics. Her injury put the spotlight on the rate of ACL injuries among women athletes.

“A common injury in sports that people ask me about are about the ACL, and this is injury is particularly common in sports, like basketball, football, and soccer,” said Dr. Selesnick, whose specialties are arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine and knee-joint replacement surgery. “In women athletes, we find that they are four to five times more likely to tear their ACL than men. There's a number of theories as to why this can be.”

The ACL is often stretched or torn during a sudden twisting motion. This is when the feet stay planted one way, but the knees turn the other way. Slowing down while running or landing from a jump incorrectly can cause ACL injuries. Skiing, basketball, and football are sports that have a higher risk for ACL injuries.

Several studies have shown that female athletes have a higher incidence of ACL injury than male athletes in certain sports. The AAOS states that some proposed reasons for this disparity include differences in physical conditioning, muscular strength, and neuromuscular control. Other suggested causes include differences in pelvis and lower extremity (leg) alignment, increased looseness in ligaments, and the effects of the hormone estrogen on ligament properties.

“It could be the width of the ACL itself and women is not as wide as men,” adds Dr. Selesnick. “It could be hormonally related or it could be just the fact that women land and jump differently than men. There have been studies that have been done finding that when the athletes have been taught how to land and jump more similar to men, they've cut down on the ACL injury rates, sometimes by as much as 20 percent.”

Treatments for knee ligament injuries depend on symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. Treatment may include: Pain medicine, such as ibuprofen; muscle-strengthening exercises; protective knee brace; ice pack to ease swelling; and surgery.

At Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, orthopedic specialists are skilled in all areas of knee and leg conditions. With an extensive background in sports medicine, the specialists have expertise in treating injuries, as well as helping avoid future injury.