How Physical Therapy Can Aid in ACL Injury Prevention.
Did you know that adolescent female athletes are up to eight times more likely than boys to tear their ACLs? Fortunately, there are tried-and-true methods for lowering your risk while improving your function and athletic performance.
Our physical therapists in Warminster and New Britain, PA are highly trained in determining who is at risk for an ACL injury and can provide the tools to mitigate these risks.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common knee injury that affects athletes of all ages and abilities. Certain sports increase your chances of tearing your ACL, but they are not the only way to suffer this injury. Our physical therapists can teach you how to reduce risks in any activity or sport you enjoy.
We will conduct a thorough evaluation of the individual’s ability to produce controlled movement through coordinated muscle activities (i.e., neuromuscular control). According to research, programs emphasizing neuromuscular control lower the risk of tearing the anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL).
If you want to reduce your chances of an ACL injury, call McCabe and Brady Physical Therapy today to set up an appointment with one of our specialists.
What factors contribute to ACL injuries?
The inability to control movement during activities appears to be the most important reason for the higher rate of ACL injuries. Studies have shown that females are less effective at using their muscles to control movement at their knees. The inability to achieve a maximum contraction to straighten the knee, regardless of gender, significantly reduces one’s ability to control the forward movement of the thigh bone over the shin bone, resulting in ACL injury.
Recent studies have also shown that due to poor muscle activation, females knees are more likely to fall into a vulnerable posture making them more susceptible to injury.
Most ACL tears occur as a result of a sudden but awkward stop, such as landing from a jump or making a sharp cut to change direction. The majority of injuries are caused by deceleration (slowing) movements. These activities, when combined with a lack or deficiency in the ability to coordinate muscle contractions, increase an individual’s risk of injury.
Why are ACL tears more common in women?
Girls/women are up to eight times more likely than boys/men to tear their ACLs. Some possible, but not conclusive, reasons why females are more vulnerable to injury include:
Hormonal differences
Hormonal differences are generally considered a “trend” rather than a direct cause, meaning that while there appear to be more incidents of injury and it may be one of many contributing factors, it is not a “cause” in and of itself.
Differences in femoral notches
Regardless of gender, smaller notches (i.e., the area where the ACL attaches to the bone) have a higher rate of ACL injury.
The knee joint structure
Individuals with a greater range of motion and less muscle mass around the knee tend to have looser joints and greater instability. These are not considered causative factors but rather contributing factors.
Weak core
If the leg muscles are strong, but the core muscles (abdominals, hip/pelvis, and back muscles) are weak, it will be difficult to properly stabilize the lower extremities during the dynamic movements required in sports. This core weakness lays the groundwork for injury.
Our physical therapists can help regardless of your limitations and restrictions. We will assess your ability to control movements and provide preventative drills and exercises to help you maximize your ability while reducing your risk of injury.
How ACL prevention programs help to reduce injury risk
To identify all of the factors that may put you at risk for an ACL injury, our physical therapists will begin with a biomechanical assessment and a movement screen. We will also check strength, balance, and coordination during this assessment to provide a complete picture of the individual and their abilities.
We will use this data to create a comprehensive program that focuses on hip and hamstring training, core stability, and neuromuscular training. We will concentrate on improving your strength and dynamic stability in order to restore function and prevent injuries. Our programs will stimulate the nervous system to improve balance and coordination.
Your physical therapist will incorporate activity/sport-specific treatments to help you maximize your training and prepare for injury-free participation. Each program will cover the “at-risk” situations for noncontact ACL injuries, such as proper deceleration, cutting, or changing directions, as well as proper landing techniques.
Request an appointment today at one of our locations in Warminster or New Britain, PA to learn more about our ACL prevention programs today.
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