Date of Award

1998

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Beverly Johnson

Keywords

Anterior Cruciate Ligament -- injuries

Abstract

Current literature has just begun to look at gynecology and obstetrics beyond the point of pregnancy and into the realm of sports medicine. Clinical research is starting to determine that female athletes may be predisposed to musculosketal injuries because of regular hormonal fluctuations. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between ACL injuries in females and a specific phase of their menstrual cycle. Survey's were mailed to 52 female patients who had undergone ACL reconstructive surgery within the past year. Twenty-five (48%) of the women completed and mailed back the survey. A majority of the respondents (64%) reported being injured during the proliferative and first half of the luteal phases of their menstrual cycle, the point in the cycle where estrogen and progesterone concentration is greatest. Further research is needed to determine the effect of hormone levels on injury rate.

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