Non contact ACL injuries remain one of the most common traumatic injuries encountered in sports medicine. The most common mechanism of injury involves a sudden twisting motion at the knee with the foot planted. Many factors are at play in this scenario including shoewear, field and court conditions, and the athletes ability to resist the...
ACL injuries continue to rise among our high school and collegiate athletes. In particular, among female athletes who are 6-8 times more likely to injure their ACL compared to a male in the same sport. The vast majority of these athletes will elect to undergo surgical repair of their injured ligaments, but current research suggests...
In our previous posts on ACL injury we have highlighted girls are 6-8 more likely to sustain an ACL injury compared to boys in the same sport. Multiple research studies have attempted to reduce this risk by implementing sport specific strength, agility, and balance programs. On average, these programs have a significant impact on injury...
Cutting movements utilized in soccer, football, basketball, and lacrosse are one of the most common mechanisms of non contact knee injuries. Athletes who cut with poor mechanics demonstrate larger hip and knee angles placing the ligaments of the knee, such as the ACL, at greater risk of injury. These movements at the knee are driven...
We have written previously about the high rates of subsequent knee injuries after an athlete returns to sport and activity after ACL surgery. Interestingly, the most common site of injury is on the opposite knee indicating athlete’s are using a compensatory balance and coordination strategy during play. Current research is working on developing physical therapy...
After any knee surgery, the quadricep muscle group becomes difficult to contract and recruit. These inhibition or impairment is usually secondary to both knee pain and knee swelling. Weakness in the quadriceps can lead to pain, impaired leg function, and prevent a full return to life or sport after knee surgery. Physical Therapists often...
We written many blog posts on ACL injuries as they continue to be a risk to our youth and amateur athletes in Boulder County. Thankfully, evidence shows we are able to screen athletes at risk for future injury as well as reduce their risk through Physical Therapy strength, balance, and conditioning programs. Another group at...
Post operative immobilization is often utilized after ACL surgery in an attempt to support the knee joint. The reasoning behind the bracing includes reducing abnormal forces across the knee, patient comfort, and reducing the risk of injury to the recently repaired tissues. Research has currently not found a strong benefit of early post operative bracing for...
ACL injuries are becoming more common among both recreational and professional athletes. The majority of these athletes who sustain complete tears of their ACL ligament will undergo ACL reconstruction and intensive post operative Physical Therapy. Often, the ACL surgery is delayed after the injury to allow the athlete to regain their lost range of motion...
In our prior posts on ACL injuries we have discussed the support in the medical literature for the conservative management of these tears using Physical Therapy alone. The evidence supports the conservative management of segment of the injured population who are able to “cope” with their ACL tear and still function at a high level...