Originally published September 14 2005
Women are more prone to knee injuries, study says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In a recent study co-authored by Dr. Edward M. Wojtys, results show that women who train in sports that require jumping and pivoting can carry a risk of knee injury that is twice that of men.
The reason women are more likely to injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) may be weakness in the muscles surrounding the knee, according to a new study.
Women who participated in jumping and pivoting sports had knee muscles that were weaker not only than those of men who played the same sports but also than knee muscles of women who participated in other sports, such as bicycling, crew and running, according to a study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
For the new study, Wojtys and his colleagues looked at the ability of knee muscles to keep the joint stable in men and women who were of comparable size and weight.
"When you look at the forces that the knee joint sees during sports -- and in day-to-day living -- those forces are much higher than what the ligaments can withstand," Wojtys said.
"So the only way ligaments can survive is if the muscles provide protection for them."
Wojtys and his colleagues compared 24 college athletes -- 12 women and 12 men -- who were competing in sports with a high risk of ACL injury to 28 other athletes -- 14 women and 14 men -- who were active in sports that carry a low risk of such injuries.
The researchers tested the ability of muscles to protect the knee by using a device that held the upper leg in place, but twisted the lower leg.
The study shows that training may need to be different from women than men, Wojtys said.
And it's not just a matter of strengthening the muscles.
"The great news is that we already have preliminary data showing that we can improve things with training programs."
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml