Anterior cruciate ligament tearing particularly affects female athletes. So what is the reason? How can rupture be treated and prevented?
To answer these questions, Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center in Los Angeles said that the anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four major ligaments in the knee; It controls the rotation and forward movement of the tibia, stabilizes the knee, and protects cartilage such as the meniscus during twisting or shearing movements.
The center added that anterior cruciate ligament rupture is eight times more common in women than in men, explaining that women tend to suffer from knee dislocation, which may cause greater pressure on the anterior cruciate ligament during landing or changing direction.
Their lower muscle mass in the knee area also protects them less than men. Furthermore, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone may affect the elasticity of ligaments.
Which sports involve the highest risk?
The center indicated that the rates of anterior cruciate ligament tear are particularly high in sports that involve jumping, cutting, and twisting movements, such as football, basketball, and volleyball. These movements can cause sudden severe pressure on the ligament, especially if the athlete does not use proper landing technique.
Symptoms of infection
Anterior cruciate ligament tear can be indicated by hearing a “popping” sound accompanied by immediate swelling or instability. However, especially in non-contact injuries, this may be more noticeable; There is often a feeling of tearing in the knee.
Diagnosis and treatment
The diagnosis can often be made during clinical examination, and can be confirmed with imaging. For active female athletes, surgery should be performed to reconstruct the torn ligament, usually using a tendon graft from the same leg. Full recovery and return to exercise often takes nine to twelve months to allow the graft to grow.
What is important after surgery?
The athlete may feel better in the ligament after a few months, but recovery takes longer. Training too early carries the risk of recurrence of injury. Once the strength of the affected leg reaches at least 58% of the strength of the healthy leg, sports training can be gradually resumed.
Female athletes who have previously injured the cruciate ligament are four times more at risk of injuring their other knee. For this reason, prevention is crucial.
Ways of prevention
To prevent anterior cruciate ligament tear, muscle strengthening exercises, neuromuscular control exercises, and landing technique training should be performed. These programs are often incorporated into warm-up exercises, and can significantly reduce the rate of injury.
For example, simple body weight exercises like squats and hamstring strengthening exercises help stabilize the knee, and jumping training can help female athletes learn how to land safely and with control.