Update on Acl prevention programs introduction Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries can be devastating to athletes.
Update on Acl prevention programs introduction Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries can be devastating to athletes. In the United States, 120,000 to 200,000 ACL injuries occur every year, with surgical and related costs upward of $1 billion to $3 billion. Injury prevention programs (IPPs) have become much more popular over the past ten years and we will update from our prior post (click).
A number of different ACL injury prevention programs have been developed and evaluated in interventional studies over the past 2 decades. A couple more recent ones evaluated these even further. Webster and Hewett reported evidence that injury prevention programs reduce the risk of ACL injury by half in female athletes.
However, the risk reduction varies considerably across individual studies and there has been insufficient data to make conclusions on the effectiveness of injury prevention programs in male athletes. This inconsistency may be driven by several factors, but variations in injury prevention programs content seem to be important, with published research comprising wide combinations of strength, balance, flexibility, and jump training elements. Reviews that have tried to identify which training elements are most associated with prophylactic effectiveness, have found greatest effectiveness in programs, specifically from controlled studies, emphasizing strengthening and proximal control training.
An analysis involving video analysis of 107 ACL injuries in men’s soccer emphasizes the large proportion associated with mechanical perturbation to the upper body, single-leg landings, and high horizontal speeds. Other studies have shown that multidirectional, reactive phases of play such as pressing or tackling or high-speed jumping and landing events were the most common inciting events. There is also consistent evidence that a large proportion of ACL injury events involve a large base of support to center of mass distance, excessive or aberrant movements of the trunk, and knee valgus moments, particularly when the lower extremity is fixed on the ground.
Another challenge in evaluating ACL IPP interventions is that many of the efficacy studies use different exercises in their programs and apply these programs to athletes from diverse populations using a variety of delivery methods. A recent position statement on the prevention of ACL injury by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) recommended that ACL IPPs include at least 3 of the following exercise types: strength, plyometrics, agility, balance, and flexibility, along with feedback on proper exercise technique. However, given that these recommendations were developed by experts following the synthesis of existing literature that included lesser quality studies with a high risk of bias, it is also unknown whether ACL IPPs that meet these minimum recommendations have a more favorable effect than programs that do not.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to update on acl prevention programs, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
Connect with a doctor, physical therapist, or imaging center near you.
Find a Provider Near You →