Women Up to 5 Times More Likely to Suffer Joint Injuries

NEWPORT BEACH, CA, February 16, 2012 (Press-News.org) Over the past decade, we have seen a surge in the number of female athletes pushing themselves to achieve greatness. While females and males may be on even playing fields in many cases within the sports world, recent research shows that female athletes are five times more likely to suffer joint injuries than their male counterparts. Dr. Ralph Venuto (http://www.drvenuto.com/), an orthopedic surgeon and California sports medicine specialist, has seen a rise in the number of female athletes his practice has treated for joint injuries over the past decade.

"There are several studies now suggesting that females are more likely to suffer from shin splints and chronic knee pain, in addition to a higher prevalence of ACL injuries than males," says Dr. Venuto, an orthopedic surgeon whose Orange County practice specializes in procedures to repair knee and shoulder injuries. "While any sport can lead to injury, those involving frequent shifts in weight or change in direction are correlated with a greater incidence of joint damage."

Popular sports such as marathons, triathlons, beach volleyball and even yoga, when participated in regularly, can lead to the formation of joint injuries, particularly in the knees and shoulders. While researchers continue to uncover differences between male and female athletes and their propensity for injuries, some evidence suggests that the difference in hormone levels is to blame for the greater percentage of injuries occurring among women.

In addition, there are anatomical differences between the sexes. For example, women have wider hips, contributing to greater pressure being placed on the knees during exercise. And, increased ligament laxity contributes to looser joints, and greater injury potential.

While differences do exist between male and female athletes, preventative measures and proper treatment when injuries do occur will help a female athlete get on her feet faster.

"I encourage all of my patients to exercise with caution, paying particular attention to early signs of injury. Early detection can often lead to a speedier recovery as less invasive treatments are required," adds Dr. Venuto.

Dr. Venuto focuses on treatment options that enable athletes to get back to their passions as quickly as possible. Often, modified exercise routines combined with rest and focused physical therapy exercises are enough to get an athlete back on their feet. He also performs that latest surgical techniques for the repair of damaged knee and shoulder joints, including autologous cartilage cell transplants, viscosupplementation and arthroscopic knee surgery at his practice in Orange County.

Dr. Ralph Venuto (http://www.drvenuto.com/) is frequently seen on local and national television news programs and featured in newspaper and magazine articles educating the media and their viewers about innovative techniques in orthopedic and sports medicine. He is often asked to provide information on the various non-surgical alternatives he uses to help many patients reduce the on-going pain resulting from a variety of orthopedic conditions.