From fields and courts to inside locker rooms and gyms, ACL tears affect athletes everywhere. And while it’s one of the most dreaded injuries, few free resources are available to help educate and prevent ACL tears. That’s why the ACL Injury Prevention Program was developed.
How Common Are ACL Injuries?
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sits in the center of the knee. It helps keep leg bones (the tibia and femur) from sliding forward and rotating. Having a strong and stable knee can help athletes run, twist, kick and cut without injury. But a knee that isn’t healthy or stable can give out, causing an ACL tear.
Knee injuries and ACL tears are one of the most common injuries for athletes, especially student athletes and females. Consider these stats:
- ACL tears make up more than 50% of knee injuries in the U.S., affecting more than 200,000 people each year.
- High school athletes have a 1 in 100 chance of tearing their ACL.
- Female athletes are four to six times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes.
ACL injuries typically happen with activities that involve cutting, jumping, landing and pivoting — sports like volleyball, football, basketball and soccer. But ACL injuries can happen in any sport, and most of them don’t happen because of physical contact.
What the ACL Injury Prevention Program Offers
This free program combines sports medicine, orthopaedics and physical therapy expertise with robust exercise programs to help more athletes compete safely. It features online resources and instructional videos with stretches, agility drills and exercises that help athletes prevent injury. Focus areas include:
- Dynamic functional warm-ups that progressively increase blood flow and gradually warm up muscles. These drills help boost performance and reduce the risk of injury.
- Neuromuscular balance exercises improve control and challenge muscles to work together effectively.
- Jump training/landing stabilization techniques teach athletes how to properly move and use their muscles to absorb the forces of jumping and landing.
- Plyometric exercises that help athletes develop power and strength.
- Strengthening exercises that allow athletes to build muscle and stability in their core and leg muscles.
Both athletes and coaches can also access a detailed pre-season workout program and an in-season maintenance program to reinforce techniques. Each program includes a specific workout regimen with videos showing how to do the exercises and stretches.
Learn More or Make an Appointment
Meet the ACL Injury Prevention team here or email AskOrtho@stelizabeth.com for more information on how the ACL Injury Prevention Program can help athletes of all types achieve their full potential.
