Are women more at risk than men are for injuries during physical activity?
Yes and no. Both women and men are at risk for injuries during physical activity. The degree of risk depends on the type of activity. For example, contact sports carry more of a risk than activities like walking.
But women are more likely than men to develop “runner’s knee” during physical activity.1 This condition may happen when the shock-absorbing tissue (called cartilage) in the knee wears down or when there are problems with the alignment of the bones, tendons, and muscles of the knee. It can happen because of many sports or activities, not just running.
Women are three times more likely to have an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear than men are.2 The ACL holds the knee in place.
Reasons for the difference in injury may include the following:
- Women’s anatomies (body structure) are different from men. Women have smaller, weaker muscles supporting the knee.
- Women and men land differently when running or jumping. Women and men also move in different ways during physical activity because of differences in the shape of the hips, muscle strength, and leg alignment.1 This puts women more at risk for injury during activities that include jumping, twisting, and turning, such as skiing, basketball, and tennis.
- Changing hormones during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy may loosen and weaken joints.
You may benefit from exercises you can do to strengthen your knee joint and lower the chance for ACL injuries. Talk to your doctor or nurse about your risk and what you can do to prevent injury.