Preventing ACL Injuries

 Preventing ACL Injuries

Famous orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Bartolozzi and a physical therapist (and soccer player) colleague spoke to a group at the Feb. 3rd, 2007 EPYSA Coaches’ Workshop regarding knee injuries and prevention. Here are a few highlights:
 
-Women are 7 times more likely to suffer a knee injury. Several reasons, including hormonal differences and a wider pelvis.
 
-Bartolozzi recommends stepping down footwear traction for practices and nonimportant games -- why increase the risk of an ACL tear for a practice? For turf, wear flats; for grass, wear turfs; for mud, wear cleats.
 
-Studies have shown that ACL injury prevention programs are highly effective. 
Two similar programs are "PEP" and FIFA’s "The 11".
 
-Bartolozzi also recommends working on balance (he gives his patients a roll of sports tape and tells them to stand on it). He didn’t recommend a specific training system (other than a roll of tape), but here are some training items offered by Power Systems.

-Trivia: a woman’s hamstring takes 78 milliseconds to begin contracting, but the ACL rips in 70. A man’s hamstring responds in 58 milliseconds.
 

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