Dr Burke
Are Men or Women More Prone to Joint Pain
The things that make a man’s physiology different from a woman’s go all of the way down to the bone. According to a study ran by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, women are more likely to have hip fractures that are related to osteoporosis however men are more likely to die if they have the same fracture.
The differences in their musculoskeletal makeups lead to a variety of differences in how prone they are to certain diseases and disorders. For example, injuries to the anterior crucial ligament are 8 times more likely to occur in women, only 30% of reported hip fractures occur in men and ankle sprains are two times more common in women than they are in men.
The Differences in Muscular and Skeletal Formation in Men and Women
Hormones play a large role in how skeletons develop. Testosterone in particular increases the mass and density of muscles and skeletons and men are known to have more testosterone which is why they tend to grow denser skeletons. Estrogen is more prominent in women and tends to widen the hips instead.
Females have a more rounded and smaller thoracic cage however the greatest difference between male and female skeletal shape is in the pelvis. Females have pelvises that are designed to carry and deliver children therefore they are wider and lower. Their pelvic rings are wider too and so is the width of their hips. Women also have skeletons which are smoother with more detailed bumps and hollows which allow the muscles to gain a firmer grip on them. As women reach puberty, their joints go for freedom rather than rigidity and rotate to absorb applied pressure.
The only joints that have similar ranges of motion and rigidity in both males and females are the wrists.
How These Differences Cause Differences in Joint Health
The fact that women’s joints are designed for flexibility rather than rigidity is the reason why women are more likely to suffer from joint related maladies than men.
Take for example how women’s leg and pelvic muscles develop. Their legs come in a bit of an X shape due to their wider hips. This causes the joints at their knees to come at an angle rather than strait down which makes them less suited to carry heavy loads than their male counterparts. Their collateral ligaments tend to overstretch which produces much pressure on the tibia’s lateral tuberosity and leads to premature wear. They have a greater range of motion than men. However, women are left with a greater risk of injury when carrying heavy loads. Women’s knees may be more likely to suffer from ligament damage, but the design of the legs in men makes men more likely to be bow-legged.
Men and women’s physicality differ, but they are both vulnerable to injuries. See a professional and experienced orthopedic surgeon like Dr. Burke for any type of joint injury to the male or female body.
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