ACL Knee Injuries in Youth Soccer
ACL Knee Injuries
What are some ACL injury treatment options?
Female soccer players are at a higher risk of knee injuries; 2 to 8 times more prone to ACL injuries are females than males. In a study conducted in 2000, female soccer players between the ages 14-18 , over a two year period showed a decline in ACL injuries from 88% decreases and in 2001 a 7% decreases. The decreases in injuries were due to set exercise programs that trained the female athletes properly on acceleration, landing, as well as their everyday soccer training.
What is the ACL?
The ACL, also known as the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, is one of four ligaments that allow your knees to function properly. It forms an “X” shape with another ligament in between the tibia and the femur .The ACL is the ligament that prevents forward movement of the tibia from underneath the femur.
What is an ACL injury?
An ACL injury is when the ligament will become torn in the middle or the ligament will become completely torn away from the bone.
What are some ACL injury treatment options?
` If you become injured through an ACL tear there are a several options. The ACL tear will not heal over time without treatment or surgery, but there are certain things that can be done. Surgery can be performed and is recommended for those who want to continue the strenuous activities they are accustomed to.
Arthroscopic knee surgery is the most common. The most common replacement tissue is the central third of the patellar tendon (but there are more donor tissue options). Bone remains at both ends of this tissue and is placed into the tibia and femur as anchors. This occurs in the orientation of the original structure. The graft is secured in by screws and will later allow the development of the blood vessels for proper healing.
If the ACL is not completely torn, doesn’t have knee instability, or the patient does not participate in strenuous activity, then knee surgery maybe rendered as unnecessary. The knee injury can be rehabilitated through exercise and a knee brace may be needed to help with the normal functions.
How to prevent an ACL injury?
ACL injuries can be prevented through a several methods. As a soccer player certain coaches or programs may provide injury prevention training. Certain exercises and techniques like plyometrics, teaching proper landing, can be helpful. Improving strength, flexibility, and replacing normal warm- ups with a set program can decrease your chance of an ACL injury. These programs can train your body into responding and reacting how it should to prevent these types of injuries. With ACL injuries being so common, there are many injury prevention programs available, proven to help young female soccer players remain healthy.
How can P3 Sports Care help?
P3 Sports Care specializes is treatment of soft tissue injuries. Granted if you have a complete tear in the ACL, surgery is probably the best option to correct the issue of knee instability. However, what many people do not realize is the amount of damage, which occurs in the muscles and tendons around the knee. Think about it… if there is enough force to tear the “tough” ACL, there is definitely enough force to affect the integrity muscles and tendons.
Proper treatment of these structures, even after surgery, is critical in complete recovery. Active Release Techniques® therapy is considered the “Gold Standard of Soft Tissue Care” and is provided at P3 Sports Care, in Huntington Beach.
The treatments have shown to be effective from as little as 3-5 treatments, resulting in a decrease in pain, improve mobility and enhanced function on the field. Our doctor can assess you and give you an honest opinion and will not waste your time or money with any unnecessary treatments. So come in to the office and try something new!
Contributed by Ondrea Ortega, Fountain Valley, CA
Contact Us HERE
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
P3 Sports Care, previously Orange County Pain Management, has been serving Southern California for over 5 years. Although many of our patients live right in the city of Huntington Beach, many of them will come from a great distance to receive our Active Release Techniques®, Chiropractic Care, and Rehabilitation. Our customer service is second to none; our patients always come first. Even patient who are afraid of going to a chiropractor love our style of care.
Serving the cities of Orange, Irvine, Villa Park, Mission Viejo, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Anaheim, Placentia, Yorba Linda, Costa Mesa, Stanton, Westminster, Buena Park, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Lake Forest, Seal Beach, Long Beach, Sunset Beach, Fullerton, Brea, Laguna Hills, Tustin, and Huntington Beach.
Check out our other articles and information on Active Release Techniques® and Injury Prevention Assessments to see if it can help you or any of your loved ones get out of pain and prevent new injuries.
