ACL Injury Analysis

Understanding the cause of sports injury requires a precise description of the injury mechanism. Over two million anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur worldwide annually, and the greater prevalence for ACL injury in young female athletes is one of the major problems in sports medicine. The most common gender differences are reduced knee and hip flexion when landing, increased knee valgus, internal rotation of the femur and high quadriceps activity unbalanced by the hamstrings in female athletes (Renstrom 2013). The female ACL is smaller in length, cross-sectional area, and volume than the male ACL, even after adjusting for body anthropometry (Shultz 2010). The mechanical and molecular properties of the ACL are likely influenced not only by estrogen but also by the interaction of several sex hormones, secondary messengers, remodeling proteins, and mechanical stresses (Shultz 2010). Proposed external

Feedback training can be used as an intervention to change motor control strategies, such as movement biomechanics to perform those athletic tasks in which ACL injury frequently occurs (Dai 2012). Strength training is a common component in regular training programs. Previous studies suggest that strength training alone might not be sufficient to positively alter biomechanical risk factors associated with ACL injury. When combined with feedback training, however, strength training could increase the capacity of athletes to improve their movement patterns (Dai 2012). Plyometric training is a physical training method to improve power and speed, and it is also commonly included in ACL injury prevention programs. Neuromuscular training appears to be effective in reducing ACL injury risk and that lower extremity strength and balance exercises, in combination with core and trunk control seem to be necessary components of a successful ACL injury prevention program (Myklebust