06/06/2017
Excellent post regarding ACL injury prevention. Drop in to see us for a structured exercise program you can do at home :)
Preventing major knee injuries such as ACL injuries should be a priority in many sports, especially those characterised by jumping, pivoting and hard cutting movements.
Below is a short summary of some research related to ACL injury prevention. They are mostly handball and football (soccer) specific, but likely relevant to other level 1 (jumping, pivoting and hard cutting) sports.
In a study by Myklebust et al, a five-phase neuromuscular training programme was tried out among approximately 1,000 female players in the top three divisions in Norwegian handball. The intervention resulted in a substantial reduction in the risk of ACL injuries.
Myklebust G, Engebretsen L, Braekken IH, Skjolberg A, Olsen OE, Bahr R. Prevention of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in female team handball players: a prospective intervention study over three seasons. Clin J Sport Med 2003; 13:71-78.
In the study by Petersen et al, 10 female handball teams (134 players) took part in a prevention programme to prevent ankle and ACL injuries. They achieved a non-significant reduction of ACL injuries with 5 vs 1 ACL injuries in the control group compared to the intervention group.
Petersen W, Braun C, Bock W, Schmidt K, Weimann A, Drescher W et al. A controlled prospective case control study of a prevention training program in female team handball players: the German experience. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2005; 125:614-621.
A high quality study design was used in the first randomised controlled trial in handball by Olsen et al among youth female and male players. It gave a highly significant reduction (50%) in the rate of acute lower extremity injuries among players in the intervention group.
Olsen OE, Myklebust G, Engebretsen L, Holme I, Bahr R. Exercises to prevent lower limb injuries in youth sports: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2005; 330:449.
The FIFA 11+ program decreased the overall incidence rate of ACL injury by 77% in competitive collegiate male soccer players. Full text can be requested here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315832699_Does_the_FIFA_11_Injury_Prevention_Program_Reduce_the_Incidence_of_ACL_Injury_in_Male_Soccer_Players
Neuromuscular training programmes should be included in the warm-up routine to reduce major knee injuries.