Estrogen And The Decrease Of Competing In Sports

UCTION:

With the implementation of Title IX of the Education Amendment in 1972, and more recently a wide spread acceptance of females in the athletic world, the number of females competing in various sports has increased significantly at all competitive levels. Since 2004, the number of female athletes competing in Division 1 intercollegiate sports has increased by 13.6% (4). The number and value of grants and scholarships being given to these female athletes and their respective teams has also seen an increase of 61.4% (4). With this positive increase in the amount of females competing in sport, not only at the college level but at the high school and youth level, there has also been a positive increase in the amount of injuries sustained

The hormones estrogen and progesterone and the protein-hormone relaxin are increased during the female menstruation cycle, especially during the ovulatory, or days 10-14, of the cycle (17,19). ACL fibers have receptor cites for estrogen and progesterone both of which have been shown to have an effect on collagen metabolism (1). Estrogen can decrease the rate of collagen synthesis within the ACL by up to 40% (17) and progesterone acts as a catalyst to this inhibitory effect (1). This decrease in collagen synthesis can lead to a decrease in tensile properties of the ACL (17). Receptors for relaxin have also been observed in the ACL and relaxin is responsible for the elastic properties of connective tissue and the reduction in collagen content (29). Females secrete more relaxin than their male counterparts especially during a menstrual cycle, this combined with the presence of relaxin receptors in the ACL contribute to its susceptibility to the detrimental effects of relaxin, estrogen, and progesterone

The Q-angle is measured from the anterior superior iliac spine of the pelvis to the center of the patella (knee cap), and from the tibial tuberosity to the center of the patella; the angle measured between the intersection of the two lines above the knee gives the Q-angle. Increased Q-angle may lead to increased valgus stress on the knee joint while performing certain maneuvers such as landing from a jump (1). Q-angle alone has not been proven to be an indicator of likelihood of ACL tear among females, only when taken into account with hamstring-to-quadricep strength and recruitment ratio and landing mechanics does Q-angle begin to become a variable of consideration