With April being Youth Sports Month, Orthopaedic Institute for Children (OIC) shines a spotlight on what it notes is becoming an epidemic among youth sports—ACL injuries.
“ACL injuries have become a youth sports epidemic and are the No. 1 sports injury we operate on at our outpatient surgical center,†says Jennifer Beck, MD, associate director of the Center for Sports Medicine at the Orthopaedic Institute for Children, in a media release.
“The injury is most common in sports that involve sudden changes of direction—such as football and soccer—but fortunately there are some basic things athletes can do to lessen the chance of injury.â€
Beck notes in the release that most ACL injuries are not the result of contact with another player but rather occur during sudden twisting motions (such as when the feet are planted one way and the knees are turned another way), or when landing from a jump. Factors that can contribute to ACL injuries include biomechanical issues such as muscle strength and leg alignment, as well as sport technique and preparation.
Young athletes can reduce their risk for ACL injuries by performing training drills that require balance, jumping, power, and agility.
“Drills such as these also help improve neuromuscular conditioning and muscular reactions and have shown to ultimately decrease the risk of ACL injury,†Beck adds.
Other exercises could include focused stretches, leg raises, leg lifts, prone hip extensions, and sidesteps.
Along with these tips, the OIC Center for Sports Medicine advises parents and coaches to ensure that young athletes don’t skip the warm-ups, drink enough fluids, use proper equipment, and never play through pain.
“We want children to have fun, but it is also important to have a common sense approach to playing and to not ignore injury,†Beck shares. “While rest, ice, and ibuprofen can help reduce basic soreness, if pain persists parents should contact a physician. Failure to address a sports injury properly and promptly can lead to lifelong problems.â€
[Source(s): Orthopaedic Institute for Children, Business Wire]
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Tips to Avoid ACL Injuries Among Youth Sports Participants" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card
Getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult for individuals suffering from arthritis. Can finding… Read More
Can individuals dealing with scoliosis incorporate various exercises and stretches to improve their posture and… Read More
Could learning to apply healthy sleep hygiene habits help improve sleep and overall health for… Read More
Can incorporating natural probiotic foods help improve many people's gut health and restore functionality to… Read More
Experiencing a whiplash injury can be disorienting and painful. Can recognizing the signs of more… Read More
Individuals dealing with fibromyalgia can find natural remedies to reduce the pain-like symptoms and provide… Read More