Researchers have found evidence of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone receptors are found within human ACLs (Slauterbeck, Hardy, 196). An increase in the levels of estrogen in ACL tissue cultures found a decrease in fibrobasts and procollagen production (Slauterbeck, Hardy, 197). The results that were found suggest that the variation in steroid hormone levels during the menstrual cycle and its effects on MMPs and TIMPs genes that are found in the ACL (Slauterbeck, Hardy, 197). The MMPs found in the ACL is expressed by different cell types, the include macrophages, neurophils, fibroblasts, trophoblasts, endometrial cells, epithelial cells, and various tumor cells (Slauterbeck, Hardy, 197). The enzymes listed can also be found in …show more content…
The results also agreed with reports on no correlation between ACL injuries and general categories of “follicular” or “luteal”, or that an ACL injury is more likely in the late luteal phase and early follicular phase (Slauterbeck, Hardy, 197). In the molecular section of Slauterbeck and Hardy’s study, Slauterbeck started a study that ultimately led to the identification of the estrogen receptor (ERα) in human ACLs. They also found progesterone in ACLs (Slauterbeck, Hardy, 197). Thye found that levels of estrogen and progesterone can safely be controlled, while testosterone shouldn’t be altered between genders without health consequences. But controlling estrogen and progesterone may be a simple way of preventing ACL injuries in female athletes (Slauterbeck, Hardy, 198). Many of the ACL injuries the athlete to have sugery and or have rehabilitation intervention. Financially the united states makes around 650 million dollars annually on secondary and collegiate level athletes. Researchers reported a relationship between ligament mechanical properties from the cyclic fluctuation of the female sex hormones (Zazulak, Paterno, Myer, Roman, Hewett, 848). During the follicular or menstrual phase estrogen, during a normal cycle, is secreted at a rate of 60 µg/day (Zazulak, et. al., 848). By the time the ovulation phase begins estrogen has reached a peak of 400-900 µg and will decrease to 300
Studies have also shown that women in particular, unfortunately have a disadvantage in life when compared to male counterparts, and that is one pertaining to their higher risk for ACL injury. Due to a neuromuscular imbalance that is concomitant with overactive quadriceps strength compared to hamstring strength, females tend to place more stress on the ACL. Accordingly, this increases the pressure on the ACL leading to a higher prevalence of injury that will arise more on the female spectrum than that of the male (Myer et al., 2009). Furthermore, this is important to be aware of for female athletes and for the Physical Therapists who treat them in efforts to provide educational information regarding the relationship of stronger hamstrings correlating to a lesser chance of ACL injury. Personally, I have worked with athletic females in the past as a personal trainer and while I was not strengthening hamstrings with the direct objective to prevent an ACL injury, I was cognizant of the notion that a balanced quadriceps and hamstring ratio was necessary to avoid lower extremity injuries as a
This article was very interesting. I learned a lot about the mechanical background of an ACL injury. This makes much more sense to me after reading the article. I wish the article had included more pictures to help fully understand how the study was set up. Overall this was a good article and will be helpful to future
Dr. Boden of the Orthopedic Center in Rockville states, “Young women are two to eight times more likely than their male counterparts to injure their ACL.” Although there are some factors that put others at a higher risk of tearing their ACL, like this gender one, ACL tears are common and can happen
Female athletes who participate in these high-risk sports demonstrate a 4 to 6 times greater rate of ACL injuries than males participating in the same sports (Hewett, 2000;
There are several different kinds of "common" injuries such as a broken leg, rolled ankle, or a sprained knee. The one I will be researching and describing is the ACL injury. Which is one of the most common sports injuries? As Medical Definition states, "The ACL is a ligament in the knee that crosses from the underside of the femur (the thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (the bigger bone in the lower leg)." In essence, the ACL is a vital part of an athlete 's lateral lower body movement which is crucial in any sport where an athlete or a person moves their legs. Therefore players who participate in any kind of activity that involves moving their lower body need their ACL to function in their activity, or just to even
There have been many studies done to explain the higher rate of ACL injury in female athletes. The most convincing findings relate to knee kinematics and neuromuscular control. In a study of 20 subjects (10 male and 10 female) forces from jump tasks were recorded using 3-D videography and force plates. One conclusion from the study was that force on the ACL was greatest during the landing phase of a jump tasks. Females frequently showed more leg extension and valgus movements during the landing phase, which also puts more stress on the ACL (Chappel et all, 2002). A similar study found that internal rotation combined with valgus movement creates
With an ever increasing number of people becoming involved with athletic activities, there is an increasing number of injuries occurring which can be devastating for the individual. Most of the injuries that affect athletes occur in one of four structures in the human body: bones, muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Because ligaments attach bone to bone and play a major part in providing stability for joints, the major stabilizing ligament in the knee, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), assists in performing everyday actions of the human body including sitting, standing, walking, running, dancing, and participating in other sports. The injury that specifically affects this ligament is very serious and always
An ACL is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) which is a ligament in the knee and is an essential internal stabilizer of the knee joint and helps in restraining hyperextension. It is injured when it’s when the biomechanics of this ligaments limits are exceeded or over stretched, often with a hyperextended mechanic. It was thought that
Several recent studies demonstrate that the rate of ACL injuries among women can be significantly reduced by following proper neuromuscular training (NMT) and conditioning programs.
In her article, “High School ACL Injury Rates”, Dawn Comstock shows that in 2009, about sixty percent, of all sports surgeries involve the knee; within the sixty percent, about fifty percent of the knee surgeries are ACL reconstructions. Sports that could have a higher tendency for an athlete to tear the ACL are sports that require an athlete to decelerate quickly or need to cut and change direction instantly. For example, an article shows that a high-impact sport has a higher percentage of ACL tears when compared to a low-impact sport, such as football and women’s soccer; football has a forty-one percent ACL injury rate while women’s soccer only has nineteen percent. Not only does the level of impact effect the likelihood of ACL injury, but the gender of the athlete as well. When looking at women’s and men’s soccer, men have a merely thirteen percent ACL injury rate because their physical structure along with their techniques when doing certain exercises.
Female athletes can protect themselves through many stretches and prevention programs provided by their coaches, parents and Athletic Trainers. Many ACL tears can be protected by warm- up or cool-down programs or stretching (Ritter). The solution to preventing some of the ACL injuries is a strength and flexibility programs to strengthen the hamstrings, quadriceps and the core while stabilizing the knee (Busse). Working on the athlete’s techniques such as running, jumping and landing techniques can vastly improve their chances of ACL strength and would help prevent against tears (Malamut). Using an ACL prevention program teaches athletes how to align their hips for correct form and how to jump correctly without pain and without being knock-knee.
Female participation in competitive athletics has increased significantly in recent years. Compared to their male counterparts, they are at a 2 to 10 times greater risk for ACL injury (Edward et al, 2015, p. 368) There are two main mechanisms for an ACL injury: Contact, and non-contact. 70% of all reported ACL injuries are non-contact in nature, whereas the remaining 30% involve contact from an outside force such as an opposing player, a goalpost, or another object on the field or court (Silvers, 2009, p.83).
In the final analysis, ACL tears are more commonly found in females because of the anatomical structure of women, improper body mechanics, and the differences in female’s circulating hormones. The human female structure has many differences to the male structure, such as muscle stiffness, stronger quadriceps than hamstrings, a wider pelvis bone, and smaller intercondylar notches. These differences in male and female structure can lead to why ACL tears are more frequent in females. Another reason as to why females are more prone to knee ligament tears is because of of the improper body mechanics performed by women. During sports, contact or noncontact studies show that women perform cutting movements that are more erect rather than a crouched
ACL injuries have brought financial burden to society, and caused devastating consequences to patients’ quality of life. Based on an estimated 200,000 cases of ACL injuries in US each year, annual cost of ACL injury is estimated to be US$4 billion for surgical treatment
When it comes to sports injuries, one of the most devastating and potentially career ending injuries is damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It is one of the most common injuries taking victim to over 80,000 people every year in the United State alone and costing them around one to two billion dollars to repair and rehab it. ACL injuries can happen in many ways, but is usually a non-contact injury while executing a movement or skill often used. Both men and women are vulnerable of injuring their ACL, however, women are more likely to suffer an injury to their ACL because of many reasons. First, women are at higher risk of ACL injuries due to differentials in body characteristics such as a decreased femoral notch width and an increased in Q-angle in their leg. Secondly, hormonal characteristics such as a higher blood estrogen concentration can also be a factor in their higher risk of ACL injuries. Unfortunately, humans cannot control these characteristics, but there are other factors that can be