Why are women and girls more likely to tear their ACL?

The main reasons

• Movement: many female athletes land with straighter knees and knees that fall inwards, which loads the ACL
• Muscle balance: the quadriceps often dominate over the hamstrings, which normally help protect the ligament
• Anatomy: a wider pelvis, a narrower notch for the ACL and a smaller ligament on average
• Ligament laxity: more natural joint flexibility in some women
• Hormonal influences have been studied, but their practical effect is less clear

None of these makes injury inevitable. They are reasons to train well, not to avoid sport.

What can be changed

Landing and cutting technique, hip and hamstring strength, and balance all respond to training. Prevention programmes built around these elements reduce ACL injuries in many female teams. Starting them in early adolescence, before habits are fixed, is especially worthwhile for girls in school and academy sport in Qatar.

Does treatment differ for women?

The principles are the same: whether to reconstruct depends on instability, sport and other injuries, not on sex. Graft choice is discussed individually; for example, some women prefer to avoid a visible scar or have smaller tendons, which can influence the decision. Rehabilitation and return-to-sport testing follow the same criteria. Female patients who prefer a female physiotherapist can usually request one.

When to be seen

A pop, rapid swelling or a knee that feels unstable after a twist should be examined. Dr. Gelber sees female athletes of all ages at Aman Hospital in Doha and can advise on treatment and on prevention for return to play.