Female athletes are prone to different types of sports injuries than men are. It’s a simple study of biomechanics; women are built differently. Because of this, the female body adjusts and responds to certain types of exercises differently. There are quite a few injuries to go around, specifically when an athlete is overtraining, and overusing their body. But women in general tend to more susceptible to certain types of injuries and need to be aware of preventative and rehabilitative methods to safeguard their active lifestyles.
The first “trouble area” is the pelvis. Women have wider hips than men, but this isn’t just a visual perception it is a matter of how the bones are set within the hip girdle. The “Q” angle is the most noticeable difference between men and women. The point at which the lower leg bone and the upper bone met, are set on a track of movement dictated by the “Q” angle is much higher and wider than in men. This results in the hips being set further apart, and so women tend to have a different gait than men, which leads to potential problems.
Why a larger hip, or “Q” angle, makes women more susceptible to injury is that it places more stress and weight, on the patella (knee) and can lead to an increased amount of pronation in the feet. Generally, women have higher arches than men, and when active, their feet hit the ground in a different way than men. This slight difference, most women have only degrees of difference between their “Q” angle than men do, is what can lead to potentially dangerous sports injuries.
Chrondomalacia is one of those after effects that a wider “Q” angle can implement upon women. This is when the cartilage behind the knee, that acts a protective force against blunt trauma and overuse, becomes thin and worn down. The bones begin to scrape against each other casing extreme dull pain behind the kneecap.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is another likely culprit of female biomechanics, this is when the positioning of the “Q” angle is relatively high and causes the quadriceps to constantly be tweaking the knee cap, (patella), when in motion. This leads to poor knee alignment. Which can lead to strains, sprains, and tears if not adjusted or corrected.
Improper knee alignment can even cause a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament. A torn ACL is a serious injury that compromises the entire health of the knee- directly affecting stability, and is one of those injuries that takes long periods of time to heal and will derail any further activity.
Preventive measures need to be taken into consideration for female athletes that may have cited previous knee joint issues, or are prone to injury. Pilates is an excellent way to counter-balance the weaknesses that many women have. Pilates is a deep stretching method combined with gentle circular movements, and core training.
The types of exercises that are found in Pilates are excellent for correcting knee alignment, and strengthening the muscles in the surrounding areas adjacent to the knee and hip girdles. Balance within the joints, muscles, and circulatory system is what makes for a healthy athlete. Pilates address and excels in the ability to increase these factors positively in the life of a female athlete.