Over 100,000 ACL injuries occur every year in the United States. ACL injuries in non-contact sports account for 70 percent of all ACL injuries. Non-contact sports such as basketball, tennis, ice skating, and golfing have the potential to cause serious ACL injuries. For example, a basketball player dribbling down the court comes to a sudden stop. This causes his leg to shift forward from momentum and results in an ACL injury. ACL injuries also occur when basketball players are attempting rebounds and land incorrectly..
Prevention of ACL Injuries in Non-Contact Sports
Many researchers are trying to figure out ways to prevent ACL injuries in non-contact sports. They are also trying to deduce why these injuries occur at all. The American Journal of Sports Medicine published an article in December of 2015 that studied hip muscle strength and its correlation to non-contact ACL injuries in athletes. Dr. Khayambashi conducted this study by examining 600 athletes before their season officially started and measuring their hip strength. Dr. Khayambashi chose to measure hip strengthy because several articles indicated that reduced hip strength may play a role in no-contact ACL injuries. Prior to this article being written and researched, there weren’t any studies that related hip strength to non-contact sport ACL injuries with any athletic population.
Study Findings
The findings were very interesting. The researchers noted that out of the 600 athletes they studied pre-season there was a 3 percent incidence of ACL injuries. They found that hip strength measurements with excellent rotation and abduction were lower in injured athletes compared to the non-injured athletes. Their P-values noted there was a statistical significance. They also assessed logistic regression analysis and indicated that impaired hip strength increased future injury risk. So, in conclusion, measurements of pre-season isometric hip abduction and external rotational strength independently predicted future non-contact ACL injuries in competitive athletes.
Are you an athlete who plays non-contact sports? Would you like more information on preventing ACL injuries? Contact Dr. Stacie Grossfeld of Orthopaedic Specialists in Louisville, KY today. Call her office at 502-212-2663 to schedule an appointment.
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