Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Kevin Stucki from Star Valley Health joined SVI to share some information for women on orthopedics and what they provide.
He says women could be a little more prone to musculoskeletal injuries due to their anatomy and hormones.
“Anatomically women are shaped different than men,” Stucki said. “Their pelvis is a little bit wider and that offsets their knees and makes them a little bit more knock kneed, and that angle then changes their foot angle too.”
He says due to those things it may present issues that maybe most men won’t have as often. He also says different hormonal balance can do different things to the physiology.
“Women tend to be a little more flexible,” Stucki said. “Their joints seem to be a little more hypermobile and that makes them prone to other kinds of problems.”
He says society also presents some challenges for women with items they wear like high heels which can also contribute to foot and ankle problems. He says that most of these things are known, but it is helpful to understand to provide the best treatment.
He also says that different factors in life can play a part in how he determines care such as a mother who is expecting. He also says older women also must be aware of osteoporosis.
“Osteoporosis is a condition men and women suffer from alike,” Stucki said. “But women, on average, live seven years longer than men. So, they are more prone to get it because we lose calcium as we get older and older.”
He says it is good to be aware of these differences for women so that it can help with prevention of injuries that require an orthopedic surgeon as well. He says this is also why we make changes in sporting events for women to “facilitate how we take care of women”.
“Women athletes are more prone to ACL tears in their knee,” Stucki said. “Again, due to those angles…talked about.”
He says this means they might provide different training when going into a sport for a woman than he may for a man.
He says women may be more prone to calcium deficiencies in their bones. If a woman is pregnant then that takes calcium from their bones. He also says when women menstruate that also takes calcium from their bones. He says raising this awareness to help provide those vitamins they need before they get depleted can be helpful to women.
