The clinical relevance of this finding is that female athletes may be more predisposed to anterior cruciate ligament injuries during the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle .
These findings may lead to potential interventions targeted toward this phase of the menstrual cycle to reduce the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury
Several theories have been proposed to explain the 3- to 6-fold gender difference in the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries .
One potential theory for the increased incidence is based on gender-related hormonal differences between men and women , especially after puberty and the onset of menses in the female athlete .
The purpose of this systematic review was to compile and systematic ally analyze the published literature to determine if the menstrual cycle is associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury risk and to provide an objective comparison of the published results .
A Method to Help Reduce the Risk of Serious Knee Sprains Incurred in Alpine Skiing
The incidence of severe anterior cruciate ligament sprains was once only a third the current rate . This fact led the authors to believe a means to help reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury among skiers might be found . Using videotapes of the occurrences of anterior cruciate ligament sprains in alpine skiers and the data associated with more than 1400 anterior cru ciate ligament injuries observed in a 22-year study , the authors identified two common mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injury . From this information , a study was design ed to determine if training could help reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament sprains . During the 1993 to 1994 season , the on-slope staff from 20 ski areas participated in a training program involving view ing videotaped scenes where knee injuries occurred . Data from 22 ski areas , where staff were not exposed to the training , were assembled to form a control group . Data concerning anterior cruciate ligament injuries were collected from both groups for the three seasons 1991 to 1994 . A total of 179 serious knee sprains were evalu ated .  Serious knee sprains declined by 62 % among trained patrollers and instructors compared with the two previous seasons , but no decline occurred in the control group
The clinical relevance of this finding is that female athletes may be more predisposed to anterior cruciate ligament injuries during the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle .
These findings may lead to potential interventions targeted toward this phase of the menstrual cycle to reduce the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury
Several theories have been proposed to explain the 3- to 6-fold gender difference in the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries .
One potential theory for the increased incidence is based on gender-related hormonal differences between men and women , especially after puberty and the onset of menses in the female athlete .
The purpose of this systematic review was to compile and systematic ally analyze the published literature to determine if the menstrual cycle is associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury risk and to provide an objective comparison of the published results .