Although the research varies, female athletes are two and a half to four times more likely to tear their ACLs than men. A new multimedia feature by The NCAA News examines possible causes for this vulnerability and highlights methods some are using to reduce this devastating injury.

The feature combines a written article with video, audio and flash animations. Users can also share their own experiences and feedback.

The package is the first of its kind produced by The NCAA News. Other multimedia projects are planned for the future.

Doctors and researchers have yet to agree on the precise cause of the high ACL tear rate in women, although several factors are typically cited. The knock-kneed landing position typical of females is one common theory.

Nerve-firing patterns between the thigh muscle and the hamstrings – called the neuromuscular response – are different in women than in men, says Thomas Trojian, director of the injury prevention and sports outreach programs at the New England Musculoskeletal Institute and team physician at Connecticut. “As women and males reach puberty, they tend to land differently,” he says.

Programs focused on training women how to properly land and how protect their knees have been successful in reducing the frequency of tears.

Some researchers also cite hormones in explaining a female’s vulnerability to ACL tears. As women mature, their bodies produce chemicals such as estrogen, which make their joints more flexible and therefore more prone to tears. As men mature, their bodies produce more muscle, which can protect the knee.

Women and men also have important difference in the anatomy of their knees. For example, female ACLs are smaller than male ACLs.

Click here to explore the ACL injury and see what some are doing to protect female athletes.

Note: You will need to download Microsoft’s silverlight.