This is a surprisingly common refrain from parents of young female athletes, particularly soccer and basketball players. Are these girls really more likely than boys to tear their ACL? It turns out the answer is yes. The two obvious follow-up questions are: 1) Why?  2) Is there anything we can do about it?

The ACL or anterior cruciate ligament is a band of tissue that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). When the ACL is torn, it is unable to heal on its own, leaving the knee unstable. If left untreated, many athletes will have knee problems right away. Many others will develop problems over time.
“OH NO! MY DAUGHTER TORE HER ACL!”