Women
are
more
prone
to
several
sports
injuries
than
men
based
simply
on
biomechanical
differences.
One
such
difference
is a
wider
pelvis
in
women
then
men.
Many
sports
medicine
experts
have
linked
a
wider
pelvis
to a
larger
"Q"
(Quadriceps
)
Angle
-
the
angle
at
which
the
femur
(upper
leg
bone)
meets
the
tibia
(lower
leg
bone).
It
is
measured
by
creating
two
intersecting
lines:
one
from
the
center
of
the
patella
to
the
anterior-superior
iliac
spine
of
the
pelvis;
the
other
from
the
patellar
to
the
tibial
tubercle.
On
average
this
angle
is
degrees
greater
in
women
than
in
men.
It
is
thought
that
this
increased
angle
places
more
stress
on
the
knee
joint,
as
well
as
leading
to
increased
foot
pronation
in
women.
While
there
may
be
other
factors
that
lead
to
increase
risk
of
injury
in
women
athletes
(strength,
skill,
hormones,
etc..),
an
increased
Q-angle
has
been
linked
to:
Patellofemoral
pain
syndrome
A
high
Q-angle
causes
the
quadriceps
to
pull
on
the
patella
and
leads
to
poor
patellar
tracking.
Over
time,
this
may
cause
knee
pain,
muscle
imbalance
Chondromalacia
of
the
Knee
This
wearing
down
of
the
cartilage
on
the
underside
of
the
patella
leads
to
degeneration
of
the
articular
surfaces
of
the
knee.
ACL
injuries
Women
have
considerably
higher
rates
of
ACL
injuries
men.
An
increased
Q-angle
appears
to
be
one
factor
that
causes
the
knee
to
be
less
stable
and
under
more
stress.
Treatment
Tips
for
Women:
Orthotics
Custom-made,
flexible
orthotics
decrease
the
Q-angle
and
reduce
pronation.,
put
less
stress
on
the
knee,
and
improve
the
Q
angle.
The
simplest
way
to
decrease
a
high
Q-angle
and
lower
stress
on
the
knee
is
to
prevent
excessive
pronation.
orthotics.
Strengthening
Exercises
.
Reductions
in
ACL
injuries
have
been
seen
with
the
implementation
of
the
ACL
Injury
Prevention
program
designed
for
women.
Strengthening
the
vastus
medialis
obliquus
can
also
help
increase
the
stability
of
the
knee
joint
in
women.
Strengthening
may
require
special
focus
on
the
timing
of
muscle
contractions.
Closed-chain
exercises
(such
as
wall
squats),
performed
only
to
30
degrees
of
flexion,
are
currently
recommended.
Stretching
Exercises
Stretching
of
tight
muscles
and
strengthening
of
weak
areas
should
be
included.
Muscles
commonly
found
to
be
tight
include
the
quadriceps,
hamstrings,
iliotibial
band
and
gastrocnemius.
Review:
September
2006
Source:
Naslund
J,
et
al.
Comparison
of
symptoms
and
clinical
findings
in
subgroups
of
individuals
with
patellofemoral
pain.
Physiotherapy
Theory
&
Practice,
June
2006
Loudon
JK,
et
al.
The
relationship
between
static
posture
and
ACL
injury
in
female
athletes.
Journal
of
Orthopedic
sports
Physical
Therapy
1996.
Fredericson
M,
et
al.
Physical
examination
and
patellofemoral
pain
syndrome.
American
Journal
of
Physical
Medicine
and
Rehab.
March
2006.
Kuhn
DR,
et
al.
Immediate
changes
in
the
quadriceps
femoris
angle
after
insertion
of
an
orthotic
device.
Journal
of
Manipulative
and
Physiological
Therapeutics.
Sept,
2002
