Skip to content
WebMD: Better information. Better health.
 
Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

Font Size
A
A
A

What Increases Your Risk

Things that increase your risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries include:

  • Playing sports that involve sudden changes in direction or cutting around other players or obstacles, such as skiing, football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and tennis.
  • Making accidental movements that may twist your knee. Examples include falling off a ladder, jumping from an extreme height, stepping into a hole, or missing a step on a staircase.
  • Losing muscle tone in legs (from aging or inactivity).
  • Having unbalanced leg muscle strength, such as if the muscles in the front of your thigh (quadriceps) are stronger than the muscles at the back of your thigh (hamstrings).
  • Previous ACL injuries, especially if your knee sometimes gives out or buckles (chronic ACL deficiency).

Women have more ACL injuries than men. In sports, women injure their ACL up to 8 times as often as men.1, 2

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 04, 2011
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Next Article:

Hot Topics

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

WebMD Video: Now Playing

click to hide section Michelle Obama’s Nutrition Tips for Moms

Click here to wach video: Michelle Obama’s Nutrition Tips for Moms

First Lady Michelle Obama shares tips on parenting with moms and other audience members in a WebMD Town Hall meeting in Miami, Florida.

Click here to watch video: Michelle Obama’s Nutrition Tips for Moms

click to expand section Fresh Breath Tips
click to expand section Truth About Naps
click to expand section Sneaky Sugars
click to expand section Antioxidant Supplements for Memory

Popular Slideshows & Tools on WebMD

Previous Next
puppy eating
New Puppy?
What you need to know.
Ra Management Get A Personalized Report
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Assess your symptoms.
Xray of foot highlighting gout
Understanding Gout
Causes, symptoms and treatments.
Concentration Killers Slideshow
Concentration Killers
What's robbing your focus?
brain scan
Schizophrenia
Recognizing symptoms.
group beer toast
Beer Quiz
Do you know your suds?
Diabetic tools
Type 1 Diabetes
Symptoms, causes, treatments.
thumbnail for fatigue slideshow
Always Sleepy?
Causes, fixes for fatigue.
thumbnail for Brain Food slideshow
Brain Foods
Foods that can help you focus.
Hot cup of coffee
Caffeine Quiz
The facts about that cup of joe.
Couple sharing drink
Staying Healthy With HIV
Myths and facts.
Wendy’s Chicken Club
Worst Sandwiches
Double-fisted diet wreckers.
» See all slideshows

Women's Health Newsletter

Find out what women really need.