A Specific Training Program to Reduce ACL Injury Risk
Much of the research into the causes of ACL injury, and the effectiveness of injury prevention programs, has been carried out by researchers affiliated with the Cincinnati Sportsmedicine and Orthopaedic Center, and the Deaconess Hospital, also in Cincinnati. In 1996, the researchers published the results of a study designed to test the effect of a training program designed to decrease the impact of landing from a jump by teaching neuromuscular control of the lower limb and increasing vertical jump height. The study results showed that landing forces could in fact be reduced, and that the training program also resulted in greater hamstring muscle power and improvements in measures of athletic performance such as increased vertical jump height. The 1996 study led to a second study of more than 1200 athletes divided into groups that either did or did not participate in a specific neuromuscular training program. The athletes were studied over the course of one season of soccer, volleyball, or basketball. Fourteen serious knee injuries occurred, including five noncontact ACL injuries. All five were suffered by young athletes in the untrained group. None of the athletes in the group that received neuromuscular training suffered noncontact ACL injuries. The neuromuscular training methods used to train the athletes in the study were incorporated in the initial design of the ACL injury prevention program known as Sportsmetrics.
Three Levels of Injury Prevention
Physical Therapy of Los Gatos offers three levels of prevention to reduce the risk of ACL injury among our young athletes. First, we have a brochure with additional information about ACL injury prevention. The brochure is free. Just stop by the clinic to pick it up, or call, and we'll send one to you. Second, we're offering the Cincinnati SportsMedicine Research and Education Foundation's instructional Sportsmetrics series on DVD. The DVD includes an at-home Sportsmetrics training program for athletes and additional in-practice conditioning and maintenance information. We believe every athlete can benefit from the information in the brochure, and that all young female athletes should follow, as closely as possible, the Sportsmetrics program specified on the DVD to reduce the risk of ACL injury.
For athletes found to be at high risk of ACL injury during screening, and athletes who have already suffered an ACL injury requiring reconstructive surgery, we recommend the six-week Sportsmetrics training program directed by a Sportsmetrics-certified physical therapist in our clinic.
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