Why Are Teen Girls at Higher Risk for ACL Tears?

You Should Know: A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an all-too familiar injury for athletes — even in the best of the best, like Tom Brady, Megan Rapinoe, and Lindsay Vonn. But they’re also increasingly common in young athletes — especially girls, who are three to six times more likely to tear their ACL than boys. 

Going Deeper: Anatomical and physiological differences play a major role. Female knees tend to be “looser” with less range of motion and protective muscle mass — and they often turn inward during quick movements, increasing risk of a tear. Girls also have wider hips and shorter thighs, and hormonal shifts during menstruation can further loosen ligaments, raising injury risk.

Takeaway: External factors are also to blame. More girls now play sports year-round, increasing wear and tear. Yet strength training is often introduced later and deprioritized in girls’ sports, making preventative conditioning less common. Cleats for girls also frequently aren’t designed for a female foot — they are shaped differently and don’t absorb shock the same way male feet do. 

Bottom Line: Preventing ACL tears is possible for young athletes: regular 20-minute prevention warm-ups, such as FIFA 11+ or the PEP Program, can reduce ACL tears by 50% to 80% when consistently incorporated into training.