Injury Risk
Most injuries that occur in sport are sports-specific rather than sex-specific. Injuries to female athletes occur mainly in practice and are thought to be due to improper training, inadequate facilities and poor coaching. In basketball and soccer it is reported that females have a 3-5 times increase risk of anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries compared to males. This is though to be due to anatomical difference (knee hypertension and a smaller notch for the anterior cruciate to fit in to) as well as the failure in developing basic coordination skills at early ages. However a further study found very little difference in the pattern of injury between men and women competing in comparable sports. Female athletes can help decrease their chance of injury by increasing their muscles strength and coordination though appropriate resistance/strength and agility training.