For some athletes, it may seem like injuries and sports go hand-in-hand. “If you play, sooner or later you’re going to get injured,” the mindset goes. While injuries are certainly much more prevalent for athletes than in any other population, this is no way to think, and it’s important to remember that most injuries can be avoided if certain steps are taken. One of the best examples of this is in regards to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, which are extremely common, but can be prevented with a course of Glenn Dale physical therapy.

The ACL is one of four primary ligaments in the knee, and it runs diagonally in the middle of the knee. It provides rotational stability to the knee and prevents the shinbone (tibia) from sliding out in front of the thighbone (femur). As a result of its location and function, the ACL is designed to handle a great deal of strain, and this is one of the main reasons it’s injured so frequently in sports.

Approximately 250,000 ACL injuries occur in the U.S. every year, and the incidence of these injuries has increased in recent years alongside a similar rise in youth sport participation. Injuries to the ACL are possible at any age and in any sport, but they are by far the most common in young female athletes and in young athletes who specialize in a single sport at an early age. Young female athletes are at an elevated risk due to certain anatomical factors, and some research has estimated that their risk for ACL injury is as much as 10 times greater than it is for males.

The majority of these injuries—about 70%—are noncontact, meaning they result from landing, pivoting or hyperextending incorrectly during play. ACL strains and sprains may only lead to a short period of rest and recovery, while tears are much more serious and can have a significant long-term impact on a player’s career.

This is where Glenn Dale physical therapy comes in. Some studies have shown that 26% of these noncontact ACL injuries can be prevented if a specific exercise program is followed. The major culprit in most of these specific types of injuries is an imbalance of different muscles that cause athletes to move their bodies incorrectly. That means that addressing and fixing these imbalances can improve an athlete’s performance and reduce their risk for experiencing an ACL injury.

How Glenn Dale physical therapy can prevent ACL injuries

Our injury-prevention programs generally consist of the following:

• First, we will perform a detailed evaluation of each athlete to assess their overall abilities; in particular, we will look for functional deficits in motion, strength and control
• Once these deficits and imbalances are identified, your physical therapist will create a personalized exercise program that targets areas that can be improved
• The program will include targeted muscle strengthening and stretching exercises to correct an imbalances or weaknesses
• Another major component of the program is sport-specific movement training, which will be customized according to each athlete’s primary sport
• We may also recommend plyometrics, which are explosive exercises designed to enhance speed, power and quickness
• Corrective core, abdominal and ankle coordination exercises also help to build a solid foundation and decrease injury risk

ACL injuries may be incredibly common in sports, but athletes should not be mistaken into thinking that they are unavoidable. By taking an extra step with a Glenn Dale physical therapy prevention program, you can come better prepared to your respective sport and keep your ACL injury risk low, especially if you’re a young female. So contact CAM Physical Therapy and Wellness Services at 301-853-0093 to schedule an appointment at any of our four clinics in Laurel, Hyattsville, Glenn Dale/Bowie or Parkville/Baltimore, MD, today, and find out how we can help you.