UPMC Sports Medicine will host a six-day conference in June to teach young female athletes how they can prevent ACL tears and other injuries.

The anterior cruciate ligament is a rubber band-like fiber attached to the femur in the upper leg and the tibia in the lower and stabilizes the knee. ACL tears are painful injuries that take months from which to recover. Girls are more than five times more likely than boys to suffer ACL tears while playing the same sports.

Doctors aren't certain why. One hypothesis is that girls bend and flex their knees less while running and jumping than boys do. Female hormones -- primarily estrogen -- may also contribute. Research conducted by the National Athletic Trainers Association indicates female athletes are most at risk for ACL tears just before the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels are highest.

The conference will be held June 14-19 at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland. Female athletes ages 12 to 18 are invited. The cost is $299 per person.

Conference organizer Ron DeAngelo, director of UPMC sports performance, will lead the injury prevention and performance training sessions. Dr. Aimee Kimball, UPMC Sports Medicine's director of mental training, and Leslie Bonci, UPMC Sports Medicine's director of nutrition, also will participate.

Other presentations include:

• "How proper training can lead to success," by professional golfer Missie Berteotti.

• "From athlete to orthopaedic surgeon," by Dr. Robin West, a former competitive swimmer who is now the head team physician for University of Pittsburgh's men's basketball team and a medical consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

• "The link between bone health, nutrition and menstruation," by Dr. Jeanne Doperak, a sports medicine physician who is an assistant team physician to the Pitt men's basketball team.

• "Gender differences in ACL injuries," by Dr. Susan Jordan, an assistant team physician for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

• "Sports medicine issues in the female athlete," by Dr. Tanya Hagen, a medical consultant to the Steelers and the Pittsburgh Passion, a women's professional football team.

• "Common hip injuries in female athletes," by Dr. Vonda Wright, director of the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes at UPMC Sports Medicine and a long-distance runner.

The conference begins with a pre-camp Sunday, June 14 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The daily sessions run from 8 a.m. to noon June 15-19. For more information, contact Mr. DeAngelo at 412-432-3871.

To register online, visit http://sportsmedicine.upmc.com and select "Our Events."