A look into one of the most vulnerable joints in an athlete’s body—especially for females
Ask the Expert: Dr. Philip Wilson, M.D., pediatric orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the sports medicine program at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, TX
CBN Aug/Sept 2009
Q: What are the primary functions of the knee during athletic activities such as cheerleading?
A: The knee is the primary joint involved in jumping, landing and directional changes during sporting activities. The knees and quadriceps act as power generators for jumping and shock absorbers during landing, with the co-contraction of the thigh muscles slowing the bending forces absorbed through the flexion of the joint.
Q: Why are females more likely to injure this part of the body?
A: The primary motion through the knee is flexion and extension, controlled by the muscles of the thigh and calf. The ligaments of the knee become involved as stabilizers during directional changes and when the knee is loaded in an off-center fashion, such as landing slightly off-balance during jumps and tumbling. Factors responsible for gender differences in the rates of ligament injuries around the knee aren’t completely clear, but female athletes have been shown to land from jumping with knees more extended (straighter) and pelvic position less-centered than male counterparts.
Q: Why are athletes who participate in cheerleading more susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries?
A: As described above, sports such as cheerleading, which involve landing from jumps, tumbling and stunts at a high rate of speed, may place the knee in strained positions, during which ligaments can be overloaded to the point of rupture.
Q: What other knee injuries, besides those to the ACL, are common for female athletes?
A: While bruising of the soft tissue and bone are most common, meniscal cartilage tears, kneecap dislocations and bone fractures around the joint can also occur during falls or when twisting the knee during landing.
Q: How can coaches help their athletes avoid potential knee injuries?
A: Practicing proper landing techniques may be helpful in avoiding knee injury. Landing from jumps and tumbling passes with the upper body and pelvis centered over a flexed-knee position with legs shoulder-width apart can prevent the knees from landing in positions that make the ligaments vulnerable.
Q: Can you share a few simple strengthening exercises for coaches to share with their athletes?
A: Abdominal and lower back exercises may be beneficial for improving pelvic positional control. Exercises to strengthen the hip muscles can also improve control and the stability of the thigh. Strengthening the lateral hip muscles during abduction exercises—moving the leg away from the center of the body with the hip in a neutral (non-flexed) position—may be particularly important. Quadriceps and hamstring muscle strengthening is also important for knee control. Exercises involving high repetitions and progressive resistance with elastic bands, leading up to free weights, are felt to be the most beneficial.
Do you have a fitness question you would like our expert to answer? E-mail us at cbn@americancheerleader.com.
Comments are closed.