INTRODUCTION: Several studies have been carried out to determine the biomechanical factors responsible by the greater incidence of patellofemoral pain syndrome and anterior cruciate ligament injury in women, when compared to men. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform a non-systematic review of the literature of the biomechanical differences between genders, especially those concerning to the hip joint, related to the higher incidence of knee injuries in women, and verify its implications for developing preventive strategies. METHODOLOGY: Articles published between 1985 and 2008 were selected by two independent reviewers of the follow data bases: LILACS, MEDLINE, Cocharane and PubMed. It was selected theoretical, transversal, and correlational studies as well as controlled clinical trial with experimental designs well defined. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The studies selected showed that women perform functional activities with lower angles of knee and hip flexion, as well as greater knee valgus, hip adduction and medial rotation. Furthermore, it is believed that the differences shown in the coronal and transverse planes of the hip are more significant for the development of injuries in women than those occurred only in the sagittal plane. Finally, the studies show that neuromuscular training carried out preventively improves the dynamic alignment of the lower limb in women, reducing the incidence of knee injuries on them. CONCLUSION: There are evidences that women have biomechanics differences of the lower limb movement pattern when compared to men that may contribute for the greater incidence of knee injuries observed in women.
Anterior cruciate ligament; Patellofemoral pain syndrome; Hip; Knee; Sex factors