Dr Sinukumar Bhaskaran, consultant for adult joint replacement and reconstruction and robotic arthroplasty (hip & knee), Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune, explicates what women can do about their knees.
Women have higher possibilities to sustain certain injuries: While anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries happen in both men and women, as per the National Library of Medicine Research, women have two to eight times more chances than males to experience one of these conditions such as osteoarthritis, ACL injuries, and patellofemoral pain syndrome. Women have a much lower knee adduction moment than men, however, a notably higher step regularity. Weight, BMI, uneasiness and tightness were the most common factors explicating variations in gait mechanics among female individuals. In males, variations in stride mechanics were substantially described by age and disorders.
It is essential to look after your ACL: Dr. Aashish Arbat, an Orthopedic Doctor in Pune explains that The ACL, one of the knee’s four main ligaments, connects the thigh bone and shinbone. Its primary function is to regulate motions that involve abrupt stops and direction shifts. As a vital ligament, the ACL is open to injury when participating in revolving movements like football, basketball or tennis. Even though the ACL can be injured in an accident, non-contact injuries account for most tears in this ligament.
Knee injuries happen for various reasons: Three key explanations by Dr. Arbat, an acclaimed knee replacement surgeon in Pune of why they are more likely in women are anatomy, biomechanics and hormones. In anatomy, women at times have larger hips than men and are more knock-kneed. This means their knees angle inwards. This posture changes the knee joint, raising the possibility of ACL injury during motions, including jumping, pivoting and landing. Women’s ACL tissue is usually thinner, hence tearing needs less force. When it comes to biomechanics, women usually land in an upright position, which results in straighter knees and less core activation. This varies from how males generally land, with bent knees and more core activation. The other essential factor is the strength ratio of the quadriceps to the hamstrings. Women habitually have stronger quadriceps than hamstrings, which can lead to an imbalance that surges the strain on the knee joint, particularly when engaging in high-impact exercises.
Hormones also influence knee health: As per the National Library of Medicine, the flexibility of collagen in the knee changes over the menstrual cycle, increasing the possibility of knee injury. The health of a woman’s knees can be notably impacted by hormonal changes over her lifetime. Regardless of its multiple physiological benefits, oestrogen has been associated with ligament laxity. ACL rips and other ligament injuries are more likely to happen during particular menstrual cycle phases, specifically when oestrogen levels are upraised. Oestrogen levels also drop in postmenopausal women, which may lead to a cutback in bone density and a higher risk of osteoarthritis and fractures.
Higher prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) in women: Study shows that women have a higher prevalence of knee OA (31.6%) compared to men (28.1%). There is statistical importance in this finding (P = 0.007). According to the study, the extensiveness of OA knees rose as body mass index (BMI) increased. Differences in muscle strength, body weight distribution and cartilage composition are some of the causes. Obesity is an identified risk factor for OA, and women tend to have a larger body fat percentage, which puts more stress on weight-bearing joints like the knees. Well, knee issues are more common in women. There are hence various preventative measures that can lower the chance of accidents and degenerative diseases, including strength training, low-impact exercise, neuromuscular training, and a healthy weight.
Treatment Options: Dr. Arbat, the most reputed Pune Orthopedic Doctor mentions that whatever the gender may be, the treatment options for ACL tears, OA or any other knee injury are the same. The ACL is doubtful to restore on its own if it is wholly torn. The key reasons for this are the ACL’s immersion in synovial fluid, a fluid found in the knee, and the ligament’s inadequate blood supply, which could obstruct the fibres’ ability to restore together. To increase joint stability and lessen knee stress, traditional management procedures include weight control, strength training and physiotherapy. Injections of corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are examples of pain treatment techniques that can reduce pain. Surgical procedures like ligament reconstruction, arthroscopy or total knee replacement can be needed in cases with extremity. Targeted treatment programmes that focus on lifestyle modifications and rehabilitation can significantly increase mobility and improve performance.
