Hamstring Strength & ACL Injury Risk In Women

*Picture by Lai Jun Wei/ Red Sports

More evidence on why women get it. Here's what researchers in the study below found in young women with regards to the relative strength of their quadriceps and hamstrings. The women who had significantly lower hamstring strength compared to their quadriceps strength were the ones who sustained the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

The researchers matched the injury free athletes and the injured athletes as closely as possible in terms of height, weight, dominant limb side and sport to eliminate other factors and then compared their quadriceps and hamstring strength. In addition, a similar group of uninjured male athletes who acted as controls were matched to the injured female athletes as secondary control as well.

The results specifically show that the female athletes who tore their ACL's had weaker hamstring strength as compared to their male counterparts although quadriceps strength was not weaker. In direct contrasts, female athletes who did not tear their ACL's had decreased quadriceps strength and similar hamstring strength compared to matched male athletes.

The researchers concluded that excessive quadriceps strength in relation to hamstring strength is a significant risk factor for ACL injury in female athletes.

As we've said before research is now pointing towards gender and sport specific training and rehabilitation programs to prevent ACL injuries. Please contact us if you have any queries, we can help prevent ACL injuries. If you enjoyed this please also see this.
 

Reference

Meyer GD, Ford KR et al (2009). The Relationship of Hamstrings and Quadriceps Strength to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Female Athletes. Clinical J of Sports Medicine. 19(1) : 3-8

*Picture by Lai Jun Wei/ Red Sports