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.

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.

These top female athletes bounced back from injury to reach great heights. You can, too!

Studies have indicated that women tend to land with different mechanics than their male counterparts. This has proven to be a factor in the high rate of ACL tears among our female athletes.

Listen to Dr. Sterett on the VSO podcast as he gives some behind the scenes info on being a world cup ski doc. Dr. Sterett also talks knee injuries to female athletes and what you can do to prevent injury during this informative chat!

There are some crucial differences that make diagnosing, treating, and preventing knee injuries in females slightly different than in their male counterparts. Let’s talk about them here.

Why are female athletes more likely to tear the ACL? What are some strategies to avoid the ACL Tear? And what happens when it's time for surgery and rehab? Here's the answer...

As early as high-school, you're bound to encounter teenage athletes (females) who have had a single, or sometimes multiple, knee surgeries. Why is this? I'm going to explain two of the main risk factors for these female athletes here today...

Dr. Bill Sterett talks about some of the unique risk factors that women face when it comes to knee injuries, as well as how we can attempt to combat these injuries by adjusting techniques when it comes to running and jumping. 

In the interest of providing a place where we can discuss and disseminate accurate information on the topic of knee injuries in female athletes, I've decided to create a dedicated online resources to educate and inform anyone who's interested in the topic of knee injuries to female athletes.

I recently filmed a popular little video about female athletes and why they seem to have a much higher risk of tearing their ACL than their male counterparts. For those who like to read, here's the condensed version of some of the reasons our Female athletes seem to dominate the injury list...