The effectiveness of injury-prevention programs in reducing the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament sprains in adolescent athletes.
METHODS
There is a high incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in adolescents participating in pivoting sports such as soccer, basketball, and handball. Most ACL injuries in athletes are noncontact injuries, with a mechanism of sudden deceleration, change in direction, or landing from a jump. These mechanisms coupled with an increase in contraction of the quadriceps have been shown as risk factors for ACL injuries. Injuries to the ACL may require surgery, a long rehabilitation, and the potential for reinjury. Studies have shown reductions in lower extremity injury rates using training protocols that focus on landing mechanics, balance training, strength training, and/or agility training. There has been some thought that starting preventive training programs with adolescent athletes may be the most effective approach to reducing adolescent ACL injuries.


OBJECTIVE
Can lower extremity injury-prevention programs effectively reduce ACL injury rates in adolescent athletes?
Dept of Human Movement Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
Jeffrey
J
Paszkewicz
Tristen
T
Webb
Brian
B
Waters
Cailee
C
Welch McCarty
Bonnie
B
Van Lunen
D000293:Adolescent; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome