OCCURRENCE OF ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURIES IN FEMALE PLAYERS DURING SPORTS ACTIVITIES

The number of female participants in all level of sports has risen greatly in less developing countries in recent years. So, also has changed the way women play. Once slow and defensive style has now changed into speed, precision and power. However, studies in less developed countries show that these changes have led to increased injuries and female athletes have higher injury rates than men in many sports, particularly basketball, skiing, volleyball and apparatus gymnastics. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries occur mostly commonly in sports such as basketball, soccer and volleyball. It is observed that female athletes injure the ACL more frequently than their maleʹ counterparts do. The greater incidence of ACL injuries in women probably stem from complex interrelated factors, possibly including hamstring-quadriceps strength imbalances, joint laxity and the use of ankle braces. Successful treatment often includes surgery. Given these findings a review of the incidence and causes of these injuries among female players of basketball, soccer and volleyballs is in order. Such a review might suggest areas of further study that could help physicians treat ACL injuries more effectively in their female patients.