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.

As Dr. William Sterett, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery in the active mountain town of Vail, and Frisco, Colorado, I’ve seen thousands of ACL injuries throughout my career. While many assume these injuries are purely a result of bad luck or poor technique, the truth is—some people are simply born with anatomical features that make ACL tears more likely.

An ACL injury can be a major setback for any athlete or active individual. When it comes to treatment, ACL reconstruction has long been the gold standard. However, advances in surgical techniques have made ACL repair a viable option in certain cases.

Both procedures aim to restore knee stability, but they take different approaches, have different recovery timelines, and offer unique benefits. Choosing the right option depends on the specifics of your injury, your activity level, and your long-term goals.

For athletes facing ACL reconstruction, the choice of graft is a critical decision that can impact recovery, performance, and long-term knee health. While patellar tendon and hamstring grafts have traditionally been the go-to options, the quadriceps tendon graft is gaining traction as a strong, reliable alternative—particularly for young athletes, female athletes, and those with a history of patellar tendon issues.

For athletes and active individuals facing ACL injuries, selecting the right surgical approach is key to a successful recovery. One popular option is Allograft ACL Reconstruction, which uses donor tissue to restore knee stability and function. This technique offers unique benefits, particularly for patients looking for reduced surgical trauma and a quicker recovery timeline.

ACL injuries can be a challenging setback for athletes and active individuals alike, but advancements in surgical techniques have paved the way for quicker recovery times and better outcomes. One such innovation is the All-Inside ACL Reconstruction, a minimally invasive procedure designed to restore knee stability while reducing trauma to surrounding tissues.

ACL reconstruction is a widely performed surgery that helps restore stability and function to a knee with a torn ACL. However, you might wonder if there's a risk of developing arthritis after ACL surgery. While the goal is to get you back to your pre-injury activities, sometimes arthritis can sneak in after the procedure.

Dr. Sterett explains, “Dancers often perform movements that place immense stress on the knee. These repetitive stresses, combined with the need for flexibility and strength, make the ACL susceptible to tears.”

Dr. Sterett explains, “Children’s bones are still growing, which means their ligaments, tendons, and muscles are also developing. This makes their growth plates more vulnerable to injuries, including ACL tears.”

OK, you’ve gotten over the shock of tearing your ACL, concluded that you should have surgery, and now your surgeon wants your input on what he should use to replace your ACL. But it feels like he is speaking a different language. Lets go over some of the lingo.

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.

Although you have about a 5% chance of tearing the ACL again, the post-surgery risk is inherently no higher than it was before your first surgery. However, additional factors may raise this probability.

While they vary in type and severity, the dreaded torn ACL is traditionally the scariest knee injury to the active, sports-minded, population.

ACL tears are a common knee injury in active people. Here’s Dr. Sterett’s quick video guide to some of the top ACL tear questions.

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.

While ACL Tears are definitely a common occurrence in soccer, the encouraging news is that in this day and age it is perfectly reasonable to expect athletes to return from the injury even better than before.

So you tore your ACL and you've got questions. The Knee Doctor has you covered with this series of quick & informative videos.

Dealing with a Knee injury is not fun, but in this day and age, it doesn't have to be career-ending. In fact, there are some athletes who had amazing careers despite basically playing with no ACL.

Well, we know that ACL injuries will occur most often in what we call "agility" sports. This fact is even more true when we look at our young high school athletes. Unfortunately, an ACL tear can be a major setback the health and well-being of the young athlete.

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...