Women's Sports Injuries: It's Not Just The Hormones

The long-held belief that women have
more sports injuries than men because of the difference in hormones is just
not true. Hormones certainly play a role according to orthopaedic surgeon
Kimberly J. Templeton, MD, spokesperson for the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons and Associate Professor with the University of Kansas
Medical Center, Department of Orthopedics. "There is definitely input from
the hormones but there are other musculoskeletal differences between men
and women."


Dr. Templeton points out how men land differently than women after
taking that basketball shot. "Men flex their hips and knees when they land.
Women tend to land with their hips and knees straight -- causing increased
tension on the ACL. That's one of the reasons why women have more ACL
("anterior cruciate ligament') injuries than do men." Templeton points out
that these types of injuries can be "career enders" to young female
athletes and may lead to an increased risk of degenerative arthritis later
in life, so it is critically important for girls to understand what they
need to do to stay healthy. There are very specific neuromuscular training
programs that have been shown to reduce the incidence of serious knee
injuries. Templeton advises parents to work with their daughter's coaches
-- particularly ones who understand the differences in training for girls
vs. boys.



Neuromuscular training programs are now being introduced in the schools
so young female athletes can learn the right way to land, among other
things, and protect themselves from serious injury. According to a study
conducted by Timothy E. Hewett, Ph.D., comprehensive neuromuscular training
is effective in improving measures of both performance and lower extremity
biomechanics in adolescent female athletes.



Dr. Templeton also underscores the importance of girls understanding
bone health. There is a common misconception that a woman protects herself
from osteoporosis only by engaging in weight bearing exercise. Dr.
Templeton encourages her patients to participate in weight-bearing exercise
and to lift weights but cautions that exercise must be balanced with enough
calories and nutrition. She emphasizes that, "Engaging in weight bearing
exercise without adequate calories and nutrition doesn't do anything for
systemic bone mass."



Without a balanced diet with enough calories, including adequate
amounts of Vitamin D and calcium, girls and women run an increased risk of
injury. Templeton also helps her patients learn the right way to lift
weights for to gain maximum benefit and to minimize injuries.



At the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons (AAOS), being held February 14 to 18, 2007, at the San Diego
Convention Center, Kimberly Templeton, MD served as moderator for a media
briefing, "Gender Issues in Orthopaedic Care". Dr. Templeton was joined by
three other orthopaedic surgeons, Laura L. Tosi, MD, Naomi N. Shields, MD,
and Letha Y. Griffin who have extensive experience with these issues.


American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

aaos