What to know about ACL injuries in teens

ACL damage during sports or fitness activities include:

• Pivoting on one firmly planted foot. • Suddenly changing direction.

• Landing from a jump.

• Quickly stopping and starting. “Females are more likely to tear their ACL compared to men. The reasons for this are not fully understood. It may be due to biomechanical differences in cutting, landing and pivoting,” Sherbondy said.

While collegiate athletes are usually provided with strength and condition programs to lessen their risk of ACL injuries, high school players may not be, often because of funding and coach awareness.

According to Sherbondy a reputable program should include:

• Evaluating the individual athlete for strengths and imbalances.

• Exercises to strengthen leg muscles in a balanced manner.

• Exercises to strengthen abdominal and other core muscles.

• Training for proper techniques in jumping, landing, pivoting and cutting.

• Warm-up routine for injury prevention. Athletes should always wear the proper protective gear, including sport-specific footwear. athletic

When minor knee pain occurs, athletes should seek evaluation and treatment to prevent a small injury from advancing to a full ACL tear, Sherbondy said.

If a school doesn’t provide a strength and conditioning program, parents should seek assistance from a physical therapist or sports center to prevent injuries,.

“There are numerous ACL injury prevention programs in existence,” Sherbondy said. “These programs seek to lower the incidence of ACL tears by addressing known risk factors. Part of the programs usually involve conditioning, jumping and strengthening exercises. There is particular attention to core muscle strength for body control, hip strengthening and knee positioning for proper landing mechanics.”

ACL injuries can range from a mild overextension to a full tear.

“Once an ACL is torn the risk of retear is about 10 percent. There is also an increased risk of tearing the ACL in your opposite knee,” Sherbondy said.

It’s a misconception that wearing a brace offers protection.

“Wearing a brace does not prevent ACL injuries. Sometimes a brace is worn as part of the rehabilitation process after the ACL has been fixed, but there is no science that says bracing prevents a retear, either,” Sherbondy said.