How to Reduce Your Risk of ACL Injuries
Co-author: Dylan Webster, SPT, XPS
If you have been following sports over the past few years you may have noticed there has been an increase in anterior cruciate ligament or ACL tears in both men’s and women’s sports. You may be asking yourself if there is anything they can be doing to reduce their risk of a knee injury especially if you have young athletes in your home participating in sports such as football, soccer and basketball. Is it even possible to reduce your risk of a knee injury in general? Luckily the answer is…absolutely!
Take Control of Your Tendons
A tendon is a connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. This tissue can be subject to injury over a person’s lifespan. Tendons are unique in that they are capable of restoring and recoiling energy as well as being readily adaptable, with the ability to respond to loading or stress. One of the more famous tendons, Achilles, connects your calf to your heel and allows for pushing off the ground with walking.
Why Does My Leg Hurt?
A pain in the leg can be a real problem, especially for endurance athletes looking to train for their next race. Identifying the cause of the pain is a good first step in learning how to heal the injury and prevent it from recurring. Read below to learn about three common leg injuries, including symptoms, causes and treatment options:
The Risk of ACL Injuries in Baseball
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are typically associated with sports like soccer or football, however these injuries can occur in any sport – including baseball.
ACL Injury Prevention in Female Athletes
If you have played sports for any length of time, you more than likely know of someone who has had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, or have experienced one yourself. Statistically, females have a 4-6 times greater likelihood of an ACL injury than males participating in the same sport.1 These injuries can significantly contribute to the overall cost of healthcare in the US, with data showing that ACL injury costs are approaching $1 billion to $3 billion a year in treatment and management.2
Who is at Risk for Jumper’s Knee?
Sports that involve high levels of running and jumping can leave athletes at increased risk for certain injuries. Basketball is an example of a sport that can predispose athletes to knee pain. Several studies have shown that the knee is the most common site of injury reported in adolescent basketball players, both male and female.1,2
4 Tips to Stay Healthy While Holiday Shopping
The Holiday season is in full swing, which means both stores and online retailers will be busy with shoppers through the New Year.
Great deals on gifts are out there! Whether you’re going to stores or opting for online shopping due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you could also be putting your body at risk for injury. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to prevent these injuries for occurring. Read below for four tips to stay injury-free this holiday shopping season.
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This is Us: A PTs Thoughts on Kevin’s Injury
This is Us has been quite the conversation generator in my clinic lately. Since Season 2 launched this fall on Tuesday nights, it is all patients want to talk about on Wednesdays! Last week’s episode, “Still There,” was the first time that our discussions of the show could actually correlate with physical therapy. Kevin Pearson (played by Justin Hartley) had arthroscopic surgery to take care of a meniscus injury. Based on his pre-operative conversation with the orthopedic surgeon, he probably had a meniscectomy, a procedure to remove the damaged part of the meniscus.
