Dr. Kaare Kolstad of The Methodist Hospital in Houston notes the number of knee injuries among female soccer players is growing at an alarming rate.

"Women injure their knees, especially their anterior cruciate ligaments, six to nine times more than men," Kolstad said in a statement.

Kolstad explains height and muscular changes in maturing female athletes cause them to have less knee joint control and they tend to get hurt when stopping abruptly or jumping. However, these problems can be combated by strengthening core muscles -- back, abdominal and hip -- and teaching proper jumping technique.

"Sit ups, push ups, mild weight training such as leg presses, especially for children ages 13 to 16, will go a long way towards strengthening these muscles," Kolstad said.

She also advises a jumping program for correctly practicing leaping and landings such as:

-- Jumping up and down off a small platform.

-- Hopping back and forth over cones.

-- Jumping forward from a straight position and landing with the knees bent.