The infamous ACL … what’s the story behind these three letters? The
ACL, or Anterior Cruciate Ligament, is one of the most important
stabilizing structures of the knee. It provides support by holding the
tibia (lower leg or shin bone) in place relative to the femur (upper leg
or thigh bone), controlling the knee joint during activity. An ACL
injury is usually season ending, typically requiring surgery followed by
a rehabilitation period ranging from six to 12 months – depending if
other structures are injured, the specific activity to be resumed, and
the athlete’s level of play.
How is this structure injured?
In about one-third of all cases, the
ACL is torn by direct contact; two-thirds happen during a non-contact
event. Non-contact injury events are related to a sudden deceleration, a
rapid change of direction, or an abnormal motion such as hyperextension
or an inward shift of the knee.
The ACL injury rate is approximately one in 3,000 or 200,000 cases
per year in the U.S. However, many have called this injury an epidemic
affecting female athletes. Statistics indicate that girls/women are four
to eight times more likely than boys/men to injure the ACL with most
injuries occurring to females during a non-contact event.
Here's the good news
Since the early 1980’s, researchers have been
looking at hormonal, structural, strength and mechanics to determine
what causes the difference in injury rates between males and females.
What the research is showing is that many non-contact injuries can be
prevented through training hip and core strength and stability,
implementing correct landing mechanics, as well as developing an
over-all balance of strength in the hip and leg. Additionally, other
preliminary results have indicated that certain athletes can be
identified as having an increased risk of injury to the ACL. By
targeting those athletes at greater risk, prevention programs can be
implemented to reduce/eliminate injury occurrences.
The ACL injury is serious due to the usual need for reconstructive
surgery and length of rehabilitation prior to returning to activity, but
with the addition of strengthening and training programs, research is
showing that injury rates can be decreased. Prevention can bring the
epidemic under control, keeping all athletes on the field.
For more information about knee injuries or other sports medicine
topics, call the Aurora Sports Medicine Hotline™ at (414) 219-7776 or
(800) 219-7776.
