Well +Good reports that knee pain and knee injuries can affect anyone of any age, regardless of whether they are physically active or not. In fact, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), approximately 25 percent of U.S. adults suffer from chronic knee pain as a result of injury, osteoarthritis, or other causes. 

“Studies have shown that women have an increased risk of knee injuries compared to men,” said Struan Coleman, MD, orthopedic surgeon at HSS . "Specifically, female athletes tear their ACLs at a much higher rate than men—as much as five times more often, especially when participating in sports like soccer and basketball.”

Dr. Coleman explained that although there has yet to be conclusive evidence pointing to a specific reason, there are several factors that likely contribute to the disparity. “Men's and women’s bodies have unique differences when it comes to muscles, ligaments, and bone structure," he says. "Females tend to have wider hips than males, which affects the forces across the knee joint. In addition, studies have shown that women have more laxity in their knee ligaments, as well as other parts of the body, and changes in both hormone concentrations and menstruation can play a role in ligament laxity.”

Read the full article at wellandgood.com.