More women are playing sports than ever before, and that also means that more women are getting injured during athletics than ever before. For a variety of reasons, women tend to be much more likely to suffer certain types of athletic injuries than men, and we want to use today’s blog to spotlight some of those injuries and how we can help female athletes overcome these issues. In today’s blog, we spotlight five types of injuries that tend to be much more common in female athletes compared to male athletes.
Common Female Athletic Injuries
Let’s explore some of the injuries that tend to occur more commonly in female athletes and break down why these injuries are more common in women.
- ACL Injuries – Comparatively, female athletes are more likely to suffer an ACL injury compared to male athletes. While researchers are still working to better understand this disparity, they believe it has to do with body mechanics and tendencies during athletic competition. Younger female athletes tend to be more upright when they land after a jump, and they are more likely to have their knees pointing inward during landing. This position puts additional force on the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. This positioning also means that the quadriceps are asked to handle more of the load during landing, and the hamstrings and hips are less called upon. If the quadriceps muscle can’t handle the stress of landing from a jump, that strain oftentimes gets shifted to the knee area and the ACL, which could lead to partial or complete tears.
- Stress Fractures – Stress fractures tend to be more common in younger and older women than of men of the same demographic. Hormonal changes and smaller, thinner bones play a role in this increased likelihood, so it’s imperative that women of all ages really focus on increasing their nutrient intake to help offset some of the natural issues they face with hormonal fluctuations and standard bone size.
- Joint Injuries – Women tend to have more joint laxity than men. And while joint laxity can be helpful down the road during childbirth, it can also mean that major joints are less stable and less able to handle a large deal of force. Ankle sprains, shoulder dislocations and hip problems may all be more common in women athletes with hypermobile joints.
- Concussions – In an article called The Concussion Gender Gap, Forbes took a look at why concussions may be more common among female athletes than male athletes. They found the younger females tended to have weaker neck muscles than men. Stronger neck muscles can help to hold the head in place more securely when there is impact. Gender differences in hormones and cerebral blood flow are also thought to play a role in concussion likelihood in women.
- Plantar Fasciitis – Finally, studies show that women tend to be at a higher risk for plantar fasciitis than men. Women with flat feet or especially high arches are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis, as are older athletes who may be carrying some extra weight. All of these factors can put additional strain on the thick band of tissue on the underside of your foot, leading to inflammation of the plantar fascia. Without proactive treatment, this inflammation can persist and increase your risk of fascia rupture, which will keep you out of commission for much longer.
Fortunately, all of these issues respond well to a healthy dose of physical therapy, so if you are looking to overcome or prevent any of these issues, consider syncing up with the team of physical therapists at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.