Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears are one of the most common sports injuries. They commonly occur in sports with rapid changes of direction or jumping like soccer, football, and basketball. Treatment often includes a surgical treatment with a 9-12 month recovery for young athletes, but is not always needed.

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ACL Injuries in Female Athletes

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Most ACL injuries are non contact, and they occur dramatically more in female athletes than male athletes, especially after puberty. Potential reasons for this disparity include increased knee valgus when landing from jumps, decreased knee muscle mass, and looser joints in women. However, ACL injuries can be mitigated for both genders through warmups, strengthening, and balance. 

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Patient Resources

\ACL Injury Care: Instructions

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