As Dr. William Sterett, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery in the athletic community of Vail, Colorado, I’ve worked closely with countless female athletes. One question that’s come up more frequently in recent years is this: Does my menstrual cycle affect my risk of tearing my ACL?

The short answer is yes—there is growing evidence that hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can influence ligament laxity and neuromuscular control, which in turn may increase the risk of ACL injury during specific phases.

It is a well-established fact in sports medicine that females are more susceptible to ACL injuries than their male counterparts. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial stabilizing ligament in the knee, and its injury can have significant implications for an individual's mobility and athletic performance. Understanding the factors that contribute to this gender discrepancy is essential for effective injury prevention and treatment.

A suspected ACL injury comes with a feeling of uncertainty, along with many questions. Did I tear it? Will I need surgery? How long will I be out of commission? Here, we will address some of the most common questions Dr. Sterett receives about ACL tears, including symptoms, treatment options, and recovery expectations.

ACL tears are one of the most common injuries in soccer. In fact, studies have shown that female soccer players are 4-5 times more likely to suffer an ACL tear than their male counterparts.

Learn why females have a higher risk of ACL injuries, along with recommended prevention strategies by Dr. Sterett, the leading expert in female ACL reconstruction.

Here are the risk factors relate to our female athletes and contribute to their higher rates of ACL injuries.

On average, female athletes are 4-5 times more likely to tear their ACL than their male counterparts. Here’s why…

We Want To Set Our Female Athletes Up For Success By Using The Graft With The Best Probable Outcome For ACL Repair.

One of the major reasons that females experience more ACL tears than their male counterparts is that they have inherent physiological differences.

I've been in a unique position to observe some of the factors that contribute to the fact that our female athletes have more knee injuries then their male counterparts

Chances are, if you are a soccer player, you will have to deal with a knee injury at some point. And if you do, let Alex Morgan be your inspiration!

When you walk or run, you are actually placing two to eight times your body weight on the knee joint. It is the job of the meniscus to absorb this weight and distribute it evenly throughout the joint.

From soccer to basketball to volleyball and beyond, the risk for injury is always there for female athletes.

When we fix an ACL, we actually have to take out the old ACL and put something new in to replace it.

It's not a secret that female athletes have a higher risk of tearing the Anterior Cruciate Ligament.

Unfortunately, an ACL tear can be a major setback the health and well-being of the young athlete.

Having been the Head Team Physician for the US Women’s Alpine Ski Team since 1997 and one of the USOC Physicians for Women’s Sports in the past 4 winter Olympics, I’ve had to know quite a bit about this syndrome and help educate our athletes.