THE SPORTS POD

👩‍🔬 Fact: Women are up to 8x more likely than men to tear their ACL — especially in sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball.

Here’s why: 👇

✨ 🔹 Anatomy Matters
Women tend to have a wider pelvis, which can change knee alignment and load.

✨ 🔹 Hormones
Estrogen may influence ligament strength and flexibility throughout the menstrual cycle.

✨ 🔹 Muscle Strength & Activation
Women often rely more on quadriceps than hamstrings — increasing strain on the ACL.

✨ 🔹 Movement Patterns
Landing from a jump with knees caving inward (valgus) raises ACL strain — and this pattern is more common in female athletes.

🏃‍♀️ How to Help Prevent It
✅ Strength training (especially hamstrings & glutes)
✅ Proper jump-landing mechanics
✅ Balance & neuromuscular training
✅ Coach-led warm-ups