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In the first minute of her team's opening game in 1999, top WNBA player Rebecca Lobo jumped for an offensive rebound and landed with a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of her left knee. Rebecca was forced to sit out the rest of the season.
This and similar injuries are helping build national interest in prevention of ACL injuries, which are approximately five times more likely to happen in women than men. According to certified athletic trainer Marge Albohm with OrthoIndy, most injuries occur in basketball, soccer and gymnastics, but they can happen to anyone. "It's almost an epidemic," says Albohm.
According to Sandy Kunkel, MD, a Sports Medicine physician with OrthoIndy and Pacers team physician, the group at most risk are those ages 15 to 30, in sports involving rapid change in direction.
There are three factors experts believe contribute to injuries, says Albohm. The first factor is anatomical structure, or differences in the knee between men and women. The "notch width" where ligaments pass through may be narrower in women, allowing less give.
Biomechanical factors, such as improper movement, also can cause tears. For example, in gymnastics, girls are taught to land with a straight, extended leg, which can cause injury. "We may need to change the preferred or mandated techniques and educate girls about safe techniques," says Albohm. Finally, lack of proper conditioning can lead to injury. Conditioning should be done all year focusing on the hamstrings, quadriceps and calf muscles, preferably with a strength coach.
Other factors being discussed include playing surfaces or hormones, but more research is needed to support these claims. Current research provides hope for effective prevention.
The good news, says Dr. Kunkel, is that in the last decade great progress has been made in arthroscopic surgery techniques that allow players to return quickly and resume normal and athletic activities. | 
