The Fact
On average, female and male lower-body anatomy differs. Women generally have a wider pelvis and different hip-to-knee alignment, which changes the angles and forces passing through the hip, knee and lower leg during running, landing, cutting and jumping. Anatomy varies person to person, but these average sex differences are measurable and biomechanically important.
What This Means
Her legs are not simply smaller versions of a man’s legs. Force can travel through her hips and knees differently. If training assumes the same geometry, the same movement can place different loads on her joints and ligaments.
This is the body-blueprint fact needed before talking about female sports injuries. Women need to know the structure they are actually moving.
Sources
- Ramachandran AK et al. Changes in Lower Limb Biomechanics Across Various Stages of Maturation and Implications for ACL Injury Risk in Female Athletes: a Systematic Review. Sports Medicine. 2024;54:1851–1876. PMID: 38671176.