Q: My daughter played volleyball in middle school and wants to play at the high school level next year. I'm concerned because one of her friends suffered an ACL injury. Is there anything we can do to protect her from getting a similar injury?
A: As more and more females participate in sports, the number of ACL or anterior cruciate ligament injuries increases. An ACL tear occurs when an athlete suddenly pivots, starts or stops quickly, or has a straight knee landing, causing excessive force on the ligament. Female athletes participating in sports involving jumping and pivoting are up to eight times more likely than male athletes to rupture their ACL. The jury is still out on why female athletes have such a higher rate of ACL injuries than their male counterparts. Some experts theorize anatomical and hormonal differences between men and women, and body mechanics (a persons movement patterns or tendencies) are two factors.
What is the ACL?
The ACL is one of four ligaments that keep the knee from wobbling or giving out when you move. It connects the front part of the shinbone to the back part of the thighbone. When the knee is forced into an unusual position, the ACL can be partially or completely torn.
What are the signs and symptoms of an ACL injury?
Generally, when an ACL injury occurs the athlete feels the knee "give out." Many hear a popping sound at the time of the injury. The knee joint will swell rapidly and there will be pain when weight is put on it.
What should I do if I think my daughter has an ACL tear?
Immediately after an ACL injury, the RICE treatment is recommended.
RICE stands for:
• Rest - Rest the knee from weight-bearing activities.
• Ice - Place a cold compress or ice pack on the knee to control inflammation and reduce pain for 20 min.
• Compression - Use an ace wrap for compression around the knee to control swelling.
• Elevation - Lay down with the leg elevated higher than the level of the chest to control and reduce swelling.
If you think your daughter has torn her ACL she should be evaluated by her doctor. An ACL tear may be difficult to diagnose immediately after the injury because of pain and swelling. Your physician will perform a complete examination of the knee and order X-rays to check for any possible fracture. An MRI may also be ordered to check for ligament or cartilage damage.
How do you treat an ACL injury?
Your physician may treat the injury with gradual weight bearing exercises, bracing and post-injury exercises. Treatment of an ACL injury without surgery is possible especially with growing children; however, surgery is usually required for the active individual. The decision to perform surgery is dependant on several factors, such as age of the patient, extent of the injury, activity level, expectations of the patient, and ability and willingness of the patient to participate in post-operative rehabilitation. The rehabilitation program following ACL reconstruction is very important and has a significant impact on the outcome of the knee.
How can I prevent an ACL injury?
A lot of us who are interested in sports medicine are trying to be proactive and minimize the risk by teaching athletes proper exercises and conditioning. Injury prevention programs such as Sportsmetrics TM, are becoming effective in bringing down the injury rate, especially in the high school and college age athletes.
Our goal is to never see an injured athlete, period. But we especially don't want to see the injured teenage athlete because it can affect their growth plate above and below the knee. It is extremely important for all athletes to participate in preventative off-season conditioning. It really does make a difference in preventing injuries.
Monroe Clinic's Sports Medicine department is the only locally certified facility offering the Sportsmetrics program. Sportsmetrics is the first ACL injury prevention program scientifically proven to decrease serious knee ligament injuries in female athletes. It guides athletes to perform maneuvers with sound mechanics, which decreases the likelihood of an injury, and also is essential to maximizing sports performance. This is accomplished through a warm up, strength training, flexibility and plyometric training.
To learn more about injury prevention and sports enhancement, coaches, parents and athletes are encouraged to attend the Sports Medicine Conference on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Founders Hall, Monroe Clinic. No charge to attend, refreshments will be served. Please call, 608-325-7529 to register.
- Eric Katzenberger is a Licensed Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine Coordinator at the Monroe Clinic
A: As more and more females participate in sports, the number of ACL or anterior cruciate ligament injuries increases. An ACL tear occurs when an athlete suddenly pivots, starts or stops quickly, or has a straight knee landing, causing excessive force on the ligament. Female athletes participating in sports involving jumping and pivoting are up to eight times more likely than male athletes to rupture their ACL. The jury is still out on why female athletes have such a higher rate of ACL injuries than their male counterparts. Some experts theorize anatomical and hormonal differences between men and women, and body mechanics (a persons movement patterns or tendencies) are two factors.
What is the ACL?
The ACL is one of four ligaments that keep the knee from wobbling or giving out when you move. It connects the front part of the shinbone to the back part of the thighbone. When the knee is forced into an unusual position, the ACL can be partially or completely torn.
What are the signs and symptoms of an ACL injury?
Generally, when an ACL injury occurs the athlete feels the knee "give out." Many hear a popping sound at the time of the injury. The knee joint will swell rapidly and there will be pain when weight is put on it.
What should I do if I think my daughter has an ACL tear?
Immediately after an ACL injury, the RICE treatment is recommended.
RICE stands for:
• Rest - Rest the knee from weight-bearing activities.
• Ice - Place a cold compress or ice pack on the knee to control inflammation and reduce pain for 20 min.
• Compression - Use an ace wrap for compression around the knee to control swelling.
• Elevation - Lay down with the leg elevated higher than the level of the chest to control and reduce swelling.
If you think your daughter has torn her ACL she should be evaluated by her doctor. An ACL tear may be difficult to diagnose immediately after the injury because of pain and swelling. Your physician will perform a complete examination of the knee and order X-rays to check for any possible fracture. An MRI may also be ordered to check for ligament or cartilage damage.
How do you treat an ACL injury?
Your physician may treat the injury with gradual weight bearing exercises, bracing and post-injury exercises. Treatment of an ACL injury without surgery is possible especially with growing children; however, surgery is usually required for the active individual. The decision to perform surgery is dependant on several factors, such as age of the patient, extent of the injury, activity level, expectations of the patient, and ability and willingness of the patient to participate in post-operative rehabilitation. The rehabilitation program following ACL reconstruction is very important and has a significant impact on the outcome of the knee.
How can I prevent an ACL injury?
A lot of us who are interested in sports medicine are trying to be proactive and minimize the risk by teaching athletes proper exercises and conditioning. Injury prevention programs such as Sportsmetrics TM, are becoming effective in bringing down the injury rate, especially in the high school and college age athletes.
Our goal is to never see an injured athlete, period. But we especially don't want to see the injured teenage athlete because it can affect their growth plate above and below the knee. It is extremely important for all athletes to participate in preventative off-season conditioning. It really does make a difference in preventing injuries.
Monroe Clinic's Sports Medicine department is the only locally certified facility offering the Sportsmetrics program. Sportsmetrics is the first ACL injury prevention program scientifically proven to decrease serious knee ligament injuries in female athletes. It guides athletes to perform maneuvers with sound mechanics, which decreases the likelihood of an injury, and also is essential to maximizing sports performance. This is accomplished through a warm up, strength training, flexibility and plyometric training.
To learn more about injury prevention and sports enhancement, coaches, parents and athletes are encouraged to attend the Sports Medicine Conference on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Founders Hall, Monroe Clinic. No charge to attend, refreshments will be served. Please call, 608-325-7529 to register.
- Eric Katzenberger is a Licensed Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine Coordinator at the Monroe Clinic
