March Madness just became March Sadness.

(FYI, your ACL is extremely responsible forstabilizing your knee joint.)

Here’s what it’s crucial that you know.

photo of juju watkins holding a basketball while wearing a usc jersey with the number 12

But, female athletes have a disproportionately high risk of tearing their ACLs.

But why is this number so high in women in the first place?

And that’s because the injury isreallypainful, to say the least.

photo of ohio state’s cotie mchmahon wearing jersey number 32 and shooting a basketball

a sports medicine doctor at theHospital for Special Surgery

As a result of these symptoms,surgical reconstruction of the ACLis often the gold standard of treatment.

This is also true for Watkins.

Thesurgeryitself is significantly short in comparison to the recovery time.

photo of audi crooks shooting a basketball and hannah hidalgo holding a basketball in hand

Generally, your healthcare team will schedule a surgery within a month of you experiencing your ACL tear.

This gives your body enough time to notice a reduction in inflammation and a slight increase in knee mobility.

And all of us are hoping that’s the case for Watkins, too.

photo of UConn basketball player Azzi Fudd holding a basketball while wearing a #35 jersey

Got it, you’ve been added to our email list.

Tara Davis-Woodhall of Team United States celebrates with husband Hunter Woodhall after winning the gold medal in the Women’s Long Jump Final on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France.

a sports medicine doctor at theHospital for Special Surgery

coach kara lawson from duke university