Department of Kinesiology

Applied Neuromechanics Research Lab (ANRL) - Lower Extremity Division


LEPD

Risk Factors for ACL Injury

Females are 3-5 times more likely to sustain a non-contact ACL injury than males. ACL injury results in significant time loss from physical activity, and precipitates the development of knee osteoarthritis within 10-15 years of the initial trauma. Although multiple factors likely combine to explain the higher risk of ACL injury in females, there is mounting evidence that sex differences in lower extremity anatomy and sex hormone concentrations may play important roles.

LEPD

Over the past 12 years, we have comprehensively characterized sex differences in lower extremity anatomy and knee joint laxity (both in terms of absolute baseline and cyclic variations across the menstrual cycle), and subsequently examined their impact on sex differences in weight bearing knee joint biomechanics. More recently (work unpublished), we have expanded our understanding of sex-dimorphic endogenous factors to those associated with body composition, strength and knee joint geometry. We have also developed an exercise protocol to examine the effects of these physical characteristics on knee joint biomechanics under more realistic, exercising conditions.


  1. ANRL - Lower Extremity Division
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  2. Risk Factors for ACL Injury
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    1. Lower Extremity Anatomy
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      1. Lower Extremity Alignment
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      2. Body Composition and Strength
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      3. Joint Geometry
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    2. Sex Hormones and Knee Joint Laxity
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      1. Sex and Laxity Differences
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      2. Laxity Changes During Menstrual Cycle
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      3. Biomarker Association with Injury Risk
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      4. Baseline and Cyclic Laxity Implications
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      5. Underlying Processes of Laxity Magnitude
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