Which gender gets injured more? Understanding the differences

September 25, 2025 •

5 min read

Globally, twice as many males are killed each year due to injury and violence, but this doesn't tell the whole story. In sports and other contexts, the answer to which gender gets injured more is nuanced, depending heavily on the type of injury and activity.

Quick Summary

Overall injury rates vary by context and activity, with males experiencing higher rates of some severe, acute traumas, while females face higher risks for specific injuries like ACL tears and overuse syndromes. Differences in anatomy, hormones, and biomechanics contribute to these distinct patterns, making targeted prevention crucial for both.

Key Points

No Simple Answer: No single gender gets injured more across all contexts; injury rates and types differ based on a combination of biological, biomechanical, and behavioral factors.
Acute vs. Overuse: Males often experience more severe, acute traumatic injuries due to participation in higher-contact sports, while females tend to suffer more from overuse syndromes.
ACL Risk: Females have a significantly higher risk of ACL tears in sports like soccer and basketball, linked to anatomical differences, hormonal fluctuations, and biomechanics.
Anatomical Differences: A wider pelvis in females contributes to a greater Q-angle, increasing knee stress, while males' higher muscle mass influences their injury patterns.
Prevention is Key: Effective injury prevention requires gender-specific strategies that address unique risk factors like muscle imbalances, landing techniques, and core strength.
Stress Fractures: Due to differences in bone density, females are more susceptible to stress fractures in the feet and legs compared to males.
Impact of Context: Injury statistics, especially those involving fatal incidents, can be heavily influenced by societal factors and risky behaviors, where males are more often involved in high-risk activities like road traffic crashes.

Dissecting the Data on Injury Frequency

While global statistics on fatal injuries show a higher incidence in males, particularly from traumatic events like road accidents and violence, examining specific scenarios reveals a more complex picture. For example, in competitive sports, males in contact sports often experience higher rates of severe acute injuries, but studies focusing on comparable sports often find that female athletes are at a higher risk for specific injuries, such as ACL tears and stress fractures. This disparity is not due to weakness, but to a combination of biological and biomechanical factors that predispose each gender to different types of injuries.

Why Gender Differences Exist in Injury Patterns

Anatomical, hormonal, and biomechanical variations are the primary drivers behind the differing injury patterns observed in males and females. Understanding these underlying factors is key to effective injury prevention.

Anatomical and Structural Factors

Wider Pelvis: The typically wider pelvis in females creates a greater Q-angle (the angle from the hip to the knee). This angle can alter the alignment of the lower limbs, putting more stress on the knees and increasing the risk of ACL injuries.
Intercondylar Notch: The groove in the femur through which the ACL passes, known as the intercondylar notch, is naturally narrower in women than in men. This smaller space can contribute to impingement and increased strain on the ligament.
Bone Density: On average, females have smaller and less dense bones than males, which can predispose them to a higher rate of stress fractures, especially during vigorous activity.

Hormonal and Physiological Influences

Estrogen and Ligament Laxity: Fluctuations in the female hormone estrogen throughout the menstrual cycle can affect ligament laxity, or joint looseness. Some research suggests this can increase the risk of joint injuries, particularly ACL tears, at certain points in the cycle.
Muscle Mass and Imbalances: Females generally have less muscle mass and strength, particularly in the hamstrings relative to the quadriceps. This imbalance can lead to improper knee stabilization and increased ACL strain. In contrast, higher testosterone levels in males promote muscle mass, but can increase risk for certain injuries like tendinitis due to greater loading.

Biomechanical and Movement Patterns

Landing Technique: Females often land from jumps in a more upright position and on flatter feet than males. This technique can increase stress on the knees and reduce the shock absorption function of the calf muscles, heightening injury risk.
Core Strength: Core stability is essential for controlling movements of the extremities. Studies have shown that females tend to have weaker core muscles than males, which can disrupt the kinetic chain and increase the risk of lower-extremity injuries.

A Detailed Look at Gender-Specific Injuries

Injuries More Common in Females

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: Female athletes can be up to 8 times more likely to sustain an ACL tear than male counterparts in comparable sports due to anatomical and biomechanical factors.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner's/Jumper's Knee): This common knee issue, causing pain around the kneecap, is more prevalent in women.
Stress Fractures: Due to lower bone density and inadequate nutrition, female athletes are more susceptible to stress fractures in the feet and lower legs.
Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the foot is also frequently seen in female athletes.
Overuse Injuries: Shin splints and other overuse injuries are more common in girls and women than in boys and men.

Injuries More Common in Males

Acute Traumatic Injuries: High-contact sports and risky behaviors often lead to higher rates of acute, traumatic injuries in males, such as fractures, lacerations, and contusions.
Hip and Groin Injuries: Male athletes, particularly in team sports like soccer and rugby, show significantly higher rates of hip and groin injuries.
Hamstring and Calf Strains: In activities like running, male athletes tend to have a higher risk of hamstring and calf strains.
Upper Body Injuries: Injuries like bicep tendon tears and certain shoulder injuries are more common in men due to more frequent participation in weight-lifting and contact sports.

Comparison of Injury Tendencies by Gender


Feature	Male Tendencies	Female Tendencies
Type of Injury	More acute, traumatic injuries; higher risk of severe injuries.	More overuse injuries; higher risk of specific ligament injuries.
Common Locations	Thigh, hip, groin, foot, upper extremity.	Knee, ankle, shoulder, lower leg.
Key Factors	Higher participation in contact sports, greater muscle mass, riskier behaviors.	Wider pelvis, hormonal fluctuations, ligament laxity, neuromuscular imbalances.
Preventative Focus	Strengthening and conditioning, safer play, protective gear.	ACL-specific neuromuscular training, core strengthening, balance exercises, technique improvement.

Preventive Measures for Both Genders

Understanding these gender-specific injury risks is the first step toward creating targeted prevention strategies. An effective approach incorporates proper training, conditioning, and education tailored to individual needs.

Essential Prevention Steps

Warm-up and Cool-down: Always perform a proper warm-up to prepare muscles and joints, and a cool-down to aid recovery.
Strength and Conditioning: Incorporate exercises that address muscle imbalances. For females, this often means focusing on hamstring and core strength to support knee stability. For males, balanced training can help prevent common strains.
Neuromuscular Training: Programs like FIFA 11+ are designed to improve balance, technique, and joint stability. These are especially beneficial for female athletes at risk for ACL injuries.
Proper Technique: Learn and practice the correct biomechanics for sport-specific movements like jumping, landing, and cutting. Coaches and trainers can provide valuable guidance.
Listen to Your Body: Recognize signs of overuse, such as persistent pain or fatigue. Taking adequate rest and recovery time is crucial for preventing chronic injuries.

Importance of Further Research

While significant progress has been made, more research is needed to fully understand the intricate interplay of sex-based biological factors and gender-related social factors. The field of sports medicine is continuously evolving, with a growing focus on personalized medicine that considers these unique risk profiles. Ongoing studies will help refine prevention programs and improve outcomes for all athletes.

For more information on evidence-based injury prevention, consult resources from organizations like the National Institutes of Health. For instance, this NIH resource provides further details on sex differences.

Conclusion: A Nuanced View on Injury Risk

Attributing a higher overall injury rate to one gender over another is an oversimplification. The reality is that risk profiles differ significantly based on factors like anatomy, hormones, and behavior, leading to different patterns of injury. By recognizing these gender-specific tendencies, athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals can implement more effective, targeted prevention strategies. This shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to a personalized model of care will ultimately lead to safer participation in sports and physical activities for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Female athletes are more prone to ACL injuries due to several factors, including a wider pelvis that changes lower limb alignment (increasing stress on the knee), hormonal fluctuations that can affect ligament laxity, and different biomechanical movement patterns during activities like jumping and cutting.

In general, males who participate in contact sports or engage in risky behaviors may be at a higher risk for severe, acute traumatic injuries such as fractures and lacerations, which require longer recovery times.

Males typically have greater muscle mass, which can help protect ligaments and tendons from injury. Conversely, females often have less muscle mass and specific muscle imbalances, particularly a lower hamstring-to-quadriceps strength ratio, which can increase knee injury risk.

Yes, fluctuations in estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle are believed to increase ligament laxity in women, which can elevate the risk of joint injuries, including ACL tears.

Men tend to experience higher rates of specific injuries like hip and groin strains, hamstring strains (especially in runners), and bicep tendon tears from activities like weightlifting.

Biomechanics play a role, as men and women often move differently. For example, some studies show women land from jumps in a way that puts more pressure on the knee, whereas some male athletes are more susceptible to injuries related to maximal sprinting and high impact.

Prevention strategies should be tailored to each gender's risk profile. This includes specific neuromuscular training, focused strength and conditioning to correct imbalances (like hamstring weakness in females), proper technique instruction, and prioritizing rest and nutrition.

Yes, research shows that injury patterns can shift across age groups for both genders. For example, older females might experience more severe extremity injuries from falls, while young males might have more head injuries from traffic accidents.