ACL
injuries, or the anterior cruciate ligament, have become increasingly common within
athletes in the last few years, specifically female athletes. This injury can
be caused by one’s knee bending backwards, twisting, or bending side to side.
And chances are also increased if you are bumped or pushed during these movements.
This is a horrible injury that on average takes a minimum of 9 months recovery,
which can seem like an eternity to any athlete.
Livestrong.com
states that about 70% of ACL injuries result from awkward landings, pivoting,
cutting, and many other movements common in high intensity sports. The other
30% results from contact with another player. There are a much higher number of
female athletes, compared to male athletes that tear their ACL. Females are 2-8
times more likely to injure this ligament. (Livestrong)
According
to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Magazine, approximately 150,000
ACL injuries occur each year, resulting in an average of 500 million dollars in
health care costs yearly. A lot is being done to try to prevent any more
increase in these injuries. Many sports lifting and conditioning programs are
now implementing injury prevention, instead of waiting to act after an injury
takes place. HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) lists many prevention
techniques: Warming up, stretching, balance, landings, and strengthening. It is
imperative to have a correct landing in sports with excessive jumping, to
ensure that your knees don’t buckle, and that you have a soft landing to reduce
impact on your knees. Strength in certain areas of your legs play a big role in
injuries as well. Strengthening your hips, thighs, and even your core can
decrease your chance of injury in high-contact activities.
Although
the technology today is advanced enough to prevent these injuries from being career-ending,
it is even better if they can be prevented any way possible. Taking the
necessary precautions can keep you on the court, and off the sidelines.
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