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Related Experiment Videos

Knee ligament behavior following a controlled loading protocol does not differ by menstrual cycle day.

Christopher R Carcia1, Sandra J Shultz, Kevin P Granata

  • 1Department of Physical Therapy, Rangos School of Health Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA. carcia@duq.edu

Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|November 9, 2004
PubMed
Summary

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Female athletes experience more anterior cruciate ligament injuries. This study found no significant changes in knee ligament displacement or stiffness during the menstrual cycle, despite hormonal fluctuations, suggesting hormones may not explain the gender injury disparity.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Sports Medicine
  • Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

  • Females have a higher incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than males.
  • Hormonal fluctuations, particularly estradiol, may influence ligament properties.
  • Understanding hormonal effects on knee biomechanics could explain gender-based injury differences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if knee joint responses to external loading differ across the menstrual cycle.
  • To determine the relationship between female sex hormone levels and knee ligament laxity and stiffness.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone levels during menses, near ovulation, and mid-luteal phases.
  • Measured knee ligament displacement and stiffness using a knee ligament arthrometer before and after a standardized loading protocol.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Applied a controlled, static posterior-to-anterior load to the calf for three minutes per knee.

    • Main Results:

    • The loading protocol increased knee joint displacement but did not alter stiffness.
    • Neither displacement nor stiffness varied significantly based on the phase of the menstrual cycle.
    • No clear correlation was found between specific hormone concentrations and measured knee biomechanical properties.

    Conclusions:

    • Knee ligament displacement and stiffness are not significantly affected by the menstrual cycle phase under controlled static loading conditions.
    • The findings suggest that menstrual cycle hormones may not be a primary factor in the observed gender disparity in ACL injuries.