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Solutions for ACL Injury Prevention

Females participate in more sports today than any other time in history. In addition to simply participating in sports, today's female athletes continue to advance the expectation of performance in competitive athletics. Unfortunately, while female athletic participation continues to grow, so does the rate of injuries amongst the athletes. Knee injuries (particularly ligament injuries) have clearly been the most common "season ending" injuries among female athletes. Preventing knee injuries, however, may be as simple as basic conditioning to include a structured "jump program."

Why all the fuss about ACL injuries in females?

• Female athletes injure their ACLs at a rate of approximately 5 times more than male athletes.
• Female anatomy and biomechanics increases the risk of ACL injury:
  • Positional issues (pelvic width, thigh angle, foot and knee position).
  • Muscular issues (isolated versus functional leg/core strength).
  • Mechanical issues (landing technique and ground reaction forces).
• Trained females (following a specific jump program) can significantly reduce their risk factors for ACL injuries during athletics.
• Untrained females were approximately 4 times more likely to injure their ACLs than trained females.

What can we do to decrease our girls' risks of injury?

• A specific plyometric training program may have a significant effect on decreasing the risk of serious knee injuries in female athletes.
• Institute a program that is able to:
  1. objectively measure risk factors.
  2. supply pre and post program measurement comparisons.
  3. utilize the most current biomechanical research.
  4. incorporate up-to-date computer technology (for complicated cases).

How will we fit one more thing into our schedule?

• This program is meant to be substituted in place of, or to be used in conjunction with your current "warm-up" program.
• The program takes minutes to perform, and is done 3 days per week.
• Athletes can perform the program at home if practice time is too tight.

How do we go about instituting an ACL injury prevention program?

• First Choice Rehabilitation Specialists offers two solutions:
  1. Group or Team sessions to include coach and/or athletic trainer education.
  2. Individual sessions with students/athletes and parents.

What if we don't see many ACL injuries amongst our female athletes?

• Excellent! This program can be used preventatively to keep that trend going.
• In addition to a decreased rate of injury amongst trained females, there is also an increased performance benefit:
  • Improved landing technique
  • Increased jump height
  • Quicker reaction time.

Female athletes deserve the opportunity to participate in athletics at the highest level possible. Serious knee injury does not have to be the result. This simple program can pay great dividends with respect to decreasing the risk factors for injury as well as helping to increase physical performance.

To discuss the program or to set up an appointment for an athlete or athletic team, please contact: First Choice Rehabilitation Specialists, P.C.

References:

1. Hewitt TE, Lindenfeld TN, Riccobene JV, Noyes FR: The effect of neuromuscular training on the incidence of knee injury in female athletes: A prospective study. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 27: 699-706, 1999.
2. Roniger R: Training improves ACL outcomes in female athletes. Biomechanics. January, 2002.
3. Hewitt TE, Stroupe AL, Nance TA, Noyes FR: Plyometric training in female athletes. Decreased impact forces and increased hamstring torques. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 24: 765-773, 1996.
4. Wojtys EM, Huston LJ, Lindenfeld TN, Hewitt TE, Greenfield ML: Association between the menstrual cycle and anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female athletes. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 26: 614-619, 1998.