Many ACL tears are non-contact due to stress placed by sharp change of direction movements. You cannot do anything about it without changing the sport to something unrecognizable as basketball.
This would probably lead to less ACL tears.
en.wikipedia.org
That's the degree of change it would take.
Edited bc I decided one of the AI's could summarize everything more comprehensively than I. Asked and cut and pasted
Women suffer
more frequent ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears in basketball (and other sports like soccer and volleyball) due to a combination of
biomechanical, anatomical, hormonal, and neuromuscular factors. Here’s a breakdown of the main reasons:
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- Wider pelvis (Q-angle): Women generally have a wider pelvis, which increases the angle at which the femur meets the tibia (the Q-angle). This can put more strain on the knee, especially during cutting or landing.
- Smaller ACL size: On average, women have smaller ligaments than men, including the ACL, which may make it more susceptible to tearing.
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- Landing mechanics: Female athletes tend to land with less knee flexion (straighter knees) and more valgus motion (knees collapsing inward), which significantly increases ACL strain.
- Muscle activation patterns: Women often rely more on the quadriceps than the hamstrings to stabilize the knee. Strong hamstrings help protect the ACL by reducing forward movement of the tibia, so imbalances can increase injury risk.
- Core and hip strength differences: Weakness in the hips and core can lead to poor lower body alignment and control during movement.
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- Estrogen and relaxin levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle and may affect ligament laxity (looseness). Higher laxity can make joints less stable and more prone to injury.
- Research is still mixed, but some studies suggest that ACL injury risk may be higher during certain phases of the menstrual cycle.
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- In basketball, quick stops, pivots, and jumps are common. If these movements are performed with poor form (e.g., knee valgus), the ACL is at greater risk.
- Cutting maneuvers — especially when the foot is planted and the body changes direction — are a key mechanism for non-contact ACL tears, and differences in technique between men and women can influence injury risk.
⚠️ Summary:
Women are more prone to ACL tears due to:
- Anatomy (wider hips, smaller ACLs),
- Hormonal influences (ligament laxity),
- Neuromuscular differences (landing/knee control),
- and movement mechanics in sports like basketball.
✅ Prevention strategies:
Training programs that emphasize:
- Proper landing mechanics
- Strengthening hamstrings, glutes, and core
- Improving balance and neuromuscular control
...have been shown to
reduce ACL injury risk in female athletes.
Let me know if you want a sample ACL injury prevention workout plan for basketball players.
