Are Women More Predisposed to Knee Pain?
Many studies have shown that women tend to suffer more knee problems than men due to hormones and physiology. Several women who come to the clinic will tell me that their joint pains increase during their menstrual cycle. Studies have shown that active women are up to eight times more likely to suffer knee problems particularly injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that stabilises the joint than sporty men. Why? Partly because of our hormones and partly because of the way our bodies are made. Hormones, such as oestrogen, weaken knee ligaments at different phases of the menstrual cycle, leaving them prone to twisting or straining. One study at the University of Calgary showed that the time of hormone-induced laxity or flexibility of joints varies among women, with most experiencing some pain or discomfort around ovulation, but others displaying a greater predisposition to knee and joint problems at the very start or end of their cycle. The greater the knee laxity, the m...