This weekend, I came across an article that caught my eye: “A WNBA Veteran Becomes the Latest Player to Suffer an ACL Tear.” The athlete mentioned was Katie Lou Samuelson of the Seattle Storm—shockingly, the third player on her team to suffer an ACL tear before the WNBA season even begins.
As a physical therapist who works with athletes of all levels, this hit home. ACL injuries are far too common, especially among female athletes. According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine, females are 4 to 8 times more likely to suffer an ACL tear compared to their male counterparts playing the same sport. Even more alarming—over 70% of these injuries are non-contact. That means they’re not the result of a collision, tackle, or fall. They just happen—or so it seems.
But these injuries are not freak accidents. There are clear biomechanical and muscular risk factors that we, as physical therapy professionals, can help address.
Understanding the Risk Factors
One of the most commonly discussed reasons for higher ACL injury rates in females is anatomical structure, particularly the Q-angle—the angle formed by the hip and knee. Due to a generally wider pelvis, many female athletes have a more pronounced Q-angle, which can result in the thighs angling inward (valgus alignment). This creates a greater tendency for the femur to internally rotate and adduct, particularly during high-speed or high-impact movements like jumping, cutting, or landing.
When combined with muscle imbalances, such as strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings or glutes, the risk increases. A poor quadriceps-to-hamstring strength ratio can reduce the knee’s ability to stabilize itself, leaving the ACL vulnerable to tearing under stress.
How Physical Therapy Can Reduce the Risk of ACL Injuries
Preventing ACL injuries is not just about stretching or doing a few leg exercises. A comprehensive physical therapy approach includes:
1. Strengthening the Right Muscles
To protect the knee, we must target the muscles that slow down internal rotation and adduction of the femur—primarily the glutes and deep hip rotators. Strengthening the hamstrings, calves, and core also plays a vital role in protecting the knee joint.
2. Improving Muscle Coordination and Timing
Being strong isn’t enough. Athletes must be able to generate force quickly, particularly during sport-specific movements. That means physical therapy needs to go beyond the weight room.
We bring our athletes to our turf space to practice jumping, landing, cutting, and acceleration drills that simulate real-game scenarios. We analyze landing mechanics and correct faulty movement patterns before they show up on the court or field.
3. Using Data to Guide Programming
Every athlete we work with is evaluated using force plates and other sports technology to understand how their body handles force and movement. This data helps us create a personalized plan to address the specific deficits or imbalances that could lead to an ACL injury.
The Bottom Line: ACL Injury Prevention Starts with Smart Physical Therapy
ACL injuries are devastating. They can take an athlete out of the game for a year or longer. But the good news is—there are things you can do to reduce the risk.
If you are the parent of a female athlete or an athlete yourself and you’re serious about protecting your knees, now is the time to take action. Our ACL prevention programs at Cohen Health and Performance are tailored to each athlete and built on the principles of scientific assessment, personalized physical therapy, and performance training.
📞 Contact us today to schedule an assessment and give yourself the best shot at staying healthy, strong, and on the field.