Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Introduction on the differences between males and females
Acl injury research paper
Acl injury research paper
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
This literature review is to examine just how females are more susceptible to knee injuries, especially having to do with the anterior cruciate ligament. Knee injuries are always prevalent in injuries. Through studies and research, it has been discovered that these types of knee injuries occur more frequently in females, especially an anterior cruciate ligament injury. In order to understand some of the biological reasons as to why the ACL is more commonly injured in females, one must take an in-depth look at the knee anatomy.
The knee joint is the largest joint in the body, along with one of the most easily injured. The four main components of the knee are the bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. The three bones that make up the knee joint are the femur, tibia, and patella. The two types of cartilage are the meniscus and the articular cartilage. The articular cartilage covers the ends of the femur and tibia, along with the back of the patella. This type of cartilage helps the knee glide smoothly across all the bones as you bend or straighten your leg. The meniscus is made of two pieces. One is shaped like a “C”. The other piece is shaped like an “O.” These two pieces act as shock absorbers between the femur and tibia. The meniscus is tough and made to help cushion and keep the joint stable. Another major part of the knee joint anatomy is the ligaments. Ligaments are how bones are connected to other bones. There are four main ligaments found in the knee. The four ligaments are divided into two types called the collateral and cruciate ligaments. The collateral ligaments are found on the inside and outside of the knee. The medial collateral ligament, or MCL, is found on the inside. The lateral collateral ligament, or LCL, is f...
... middle of paper ...
...males. When a patellar tendon graft was used, the success rates between males and females were about the same. If a female athlete tears their ACL while they still plan to return to play, it is harder for them to return to play. The recovery time for a male is five to six months post-surgery. For a female, recovery time from an ACL tear is six to seven months.
So it has been concluded and agreed upon that females are at much more of risk for knee injuries, especially that of an anterior cruciate ligament injury. So the question is, can we prevent this from happening and how? I would have to say that in my opinion, ACL injuries cannot be stopped whether male or female. Many of the factors that contribute to biological reasons that cannot be helped. There are some preventative measures that can be taken. Although there is no universally accepted ACL prevention program.
Injuries to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) are one of the most frequent and devastating knee injuries that occur during sporting activities, accounting for one fifth of all sport related knee injuries ¹ ². Injury estimates have been reported in current literature to be between 1.5% - 1.7% per year within a healthy athletic population ³ ⁴. However, incidence rates for ACL injury prove difficult to access as not all individuals with ACL injuries seek medical attention ⁵. Current trends show a direct correlation between the rising incidence of ACL injury and increased sporting participation ⁶. In spite of increasing incidence rates, ACL injuries remain fairly uncommonly in relation to the amount of individuals participating in sporting activities ⁷ ⁸. Nevertheless, they still prove to be a frequent source of disability for those individuals affected ⁷ ⁸. Individuals affected with ACL injury may suffer from a number of adverse effects including dynamic knee instability, altered movement patterns, reduced functional performance and debilitating pain ⁷⁻¹⁰.
The knee joint is formed by the articulation of the distal end of the femur and the proximal end of the tibia. The fibula is only involved to the extent that it serves as an attachment site for connective tissue. In this paper, the anatomy of the joint will be discussed.
The incidence and prevalence rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female athletes continues to increase over time (Prodromos, Han, Rogowski, Joyce, & Shi, 2007). With the growing rate in the amount of young women participating in sports, data has shown that the rate of ACL injury increases linearly with this participation ("The Relationship Between Static Posture and ACL Injury in Female Athletes," 1996). This epidemic of ACL injuries in female athletes, young or old, continues to be problematic in the athletic world. This problem not only affects the athlete themselves, but also the coaches and the sports medicine community.
In order for athletes to save their active lifestyles they need understand the ACL. The ACL is the most important ligament in the knee because it provides stability to the knee. Athletes have to be aware of the importance of the ACL and know its functions in order to preserve the ligament. The ACL otherwise know as the anterior cruciate ligament is the ligament in the knee that connects the upper leg bone which is the femur to the lower leg bone which is the tibia. The anterior cruciate ligament crosses with the posterior cruciate ligament inside the center of the knee joint to stabilize to the knee in movement.
The most common knee injury in sports is damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) through tears or sprains. “They occur in high demand sports that involve planting and cutting, jumping with a poor landing, and stopping immediately or changing directions” (University of Colorado Hospital). The ACL is a ligament that runs diagonally in the middle of the knee and found at the front of the patellar bone. Its function involves controlling the back and forth motion of the knee, preventing the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur, and providing rational stability to the knee. Interestingly, women are more prone to ACL injuries than men. The occurrence is four to six times greater in female athletes.
Al Toon, father of Saints receiver Nick Toon, was forced to leave professional football after sustaining nine concussions in eight years of professional football. Football is one of the most dangerous games. As the years go on, more and more rules are being written to prevent the danger, but danger is the nature of the game. Most of these rules are for the protection of the players, but there are times when injuries can be a good thing. The Philadelphia Eagles were 3-5 to start the year, but Michael Vick was injured and the backup quarterback led the team to be 10-6, win the division, and almost beat the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs. "About 1.7 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year, about three-quarters of them mild TBIs, or concussions" (Clemmitt). Traumatic Brain Injuries are used as the main form of evidence in Richard Cohen's claim that the end of the NFL is near, and quite frankly, his argument is pretty solid.
To understand the importance of the ACL, the knee as a whole must be examined. The knee is formed by the femur, the tibia, and the patella. Several muscles and ligaments control the motion of the knee and protect it from damage at the same time. Ligaments are dense structures of connective tissue that fasten bone to bone and stabilize the knee. Two ligaments on either side of the knee, called the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, stabilize the knee from side-to-side. The ACL along with the posterior cruciate ligament are of a pair of ligaments in the center of the knee joint that form a cross. T...
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) attaches the femur, which is the thighbone, and the tibia, which is the shin, together (northstar). A torn ACL is one of the most excruciating experiences in an athlete’s life. It is the first thing that comes to mind when they hurt their knee on the field; for many it is their greatest fear. A torn ACL can sometimes mean the end of an athlete’s career. It can mean losing the chance to get that scholarship for young athletes, and it can also mean the end of those million dollar paychecks for those who have gone professional. A torn ACL can result in numerous surgeries, months of vigorous exercise and rehabilitation, and a sufficient amount of pain. It requires complete patience, for pushing too hard can result in further, more painful injury. Even after all that, an athlete is not guaranteed he or she will ever be able to play sports again.
Sports Medicine is a medical field that specializes with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. It was introduced around the early Greek and Roman era when the first modern Olympic Games took place. The Greek felt they could do something to help heal and prevent injuries that the athletes were receiving. Now in sports medicine, certain injuries can only be assessed and treated by specific physicians. These physicians can include physical therapists, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning coaches. Although sports physicians are most commonly seen by athletes after they are hurt so they can be treated, there are some physicians that are seen before an injury occurs so that they can learn how to prevent injuries.
With nearly 200,000 cases per year, with women being hurt much more than men, 4-10 times more often to be exact, it is clearly a rising issue (ACL Surgery 2). This is due to women having fuller and wider hips compared to men and also corresponding to what Dr. Levine says it is because when girls mature, they develop a muscle in their thigh that contradicts against the ACL (Flanagan 8) Especially since Ti...
The word patella comes from the great latin language meaning shallow pan or shallow dish. The description of that word could not be more correct, it was meant in reference to balance of food but in anatomy’s case a balance of the body. The patella is a small bone located in front of the knee joint where the thigh bone (femur) and shinbone (tibia) meet. It protects the knee and connects the muscles in the front of the thigh to the tibia. The patella is one of two sesamoid bones found in the body, roughly triangular shaped in size. It’s thick consistency allows for the articulation of the femur, which in turn allows for body support and balance. The patella has multiple body functions with the primary being knee extension. The patella is essential for basic body functions including locomotion;
The number of girls and women participating in all levels of sports has risen greatly in recent years, and the way they play has changed too. Women's sports used to be played by a slow defensive style. Today, the sports are played with speed, precision, and power. With these changes have come increased injuries, and female athletes have higher injury rates than men in many sports. Knee injuries have been rising in female sports. Anterior crutiate ligament (ACL) injuries have become the most common injury in the knee to female athletes. Females are four times more susceptible to injury then men.
In order to understand how the menisci can be injured, you must understand the basic anatomy of the menisci and why they are important. The menisci are two oval (semilunar) fibrocartilages that deepen the articular facets of the tibia and cushion any stresses placed on the knee joint. They enhance the total stability of the knee, assist in the control of normal knee motion, and provide shock absorption against compression forces between the tibia and the femur (Booher, 2000). Articular cartilage covers the ends of the bones that make up the joint. The articular cartilage surface is a tough, very slick material that allows the surfaces to slide against one another without damage to either surface. This ability of the meniscus to spread out the force on the joint surfaces as we walk is important because it protects the articular cartilage from excessive forces occurring in any one area on the joint surface, leading to degeneration over time (Sutton, 1999).
According to the “Physical Therapy Corner” (2007), “women suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries more often than men, nearly 4 times as often in basketball, 3 times as often in gymnastics, and nearly 2 and a half times as often in soccer” (Knee Injuries section, para.1). There are various risk factors that contribute to the high rate of acquiring injuries to the ACL for female athletes. External factors such as improper shoe wear, skill of the player, and unstable playing surface may play a significant role in developing ACL injuries, but those factors are just hypothetical.... ... middle of paper ...
Acute ACL injuries are classified by the amount of damage that is done to the ACL. This damage ranges from partial to complete disruption, and also whether or not other structures in the knee were damaged. If just the ACL was damaged the injury is referred to as isolated, however if more than the ACL was damaged it is referred to as combined. About 15% percent of all ACL injuries are partial sprains (grade 1 or 2). About 85% of all ACL injuries are complete disruptions (grade 3). Only about 25% of ACL injuries are isolated, which means that most of the time the ACL is injured other structures in the knee are injured as well. Some combined injuries may include damage to the meniscus (60%), articular cartilage (30%), and other ligaments in the knee (MCL, PCL, LCL) (30%). The amount of damage done not only to the ...