Low testosterone could be to blame for ACL problems
WOMEN are up to 10 times more likely than men to injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the flexible, stretchable tissue that extends from the knee and connects the femur, or thigh bone, with the tibia, or shin bone – and their female hormones are probably to blame.
In a laboratory trial, scientists at the Johns Hopkins University found that normal male rats with natural supplies of testosterone had far stronger ACLs than those that had been castrated and no longer produced the hormone. It might explain why females who have naturally lower levels of the male hormone are more prone to tears and strains. “The primary implication of the study is that testosterone may contribute to the ACL’s ability to withstand tensile loads and may be one of multiple factors responsible for the disparate ACL injury rate between men and women,” said Dr William Romani, a physical therapist and sports medicine researcher.