Anatomic and structural differences between men and women play a significant role in the incidence and type of knee injuries.  The increased rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and patellofemoral disorders is due to static and dynamic factors.  Alignment of the knee structures are different between men and women.  Lower extremity alignment contributes directly to forces and strain on the knee compartment.  Females often have increased joint angulation and less development of specific muscles such as the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) - which may increase the lateral or sideways forces directed on the patellofemoral joint.  Females are reported to have a greater width of the pelvis, a lower center of gravity, shorter legs, less musclular thighs, increased flexibility, less developed VMO and more frequent genu valgum (knocked knees) compared to males.   Some research states that within the knee, gender differences in the intercondylar notch shape and the width as well as ACL  size may place the female athlete at increased risk of injury. Hormones such as estrogen play a role in lagmentous laxity, however the jury is still out as to whether is has any direct effect on the increased incidence of ACL injury.

Injury rates and types vary by sport, but compared   to male athletes a common area of injury in the female athlete is the anterior cruciate ligament.