It's one of the smallest ligaments in our knees, but the Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL is also one of the most important when it comes to keeping your leg stable.
In the video above by KnowmoreTV, Dr. William Levine reveals that not only is a damaged ACL a common injury among athletes, it's especially common in women. According to Dr. Levine, as women get older, their thigh muscles become more developed than the muscles in their hamstrings, adding stress on the ACL.
And it's not just age that makes women more susceptible to injury. Dr. Levine says the choice of sport and posture also contribute to ACL trauma.
While the injury is common, it's not easy to prevent — or treat. CNN reports that while it is possible for athletes to return to a sport after having surgery on a torn ACL, the effects are long term and can lead to arthritis 15 to 20 years down the road.
Watch the video above to discover the symptoms of a fractured ACL.
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