ACL Injuries & Prevention For Athletes

If you or a loved one has ever endured an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, you may know that it is one of the most common and strenuous injuries among athletes. An ACL injury often requires reconstructive surgery followed by an extensive rehabilitation program, which can take months of recovery time and treatment. The professionals at Medcom Group are passionate about educating athletes on preventative ways to avoid injuries, while providing the highest quality medical equipment on the market today. Below are some basics on ACL injuries, treatment and prevention.

What Is An ACL Injury?

The ACL is one of the four main stabilizing ligaments of the knee. It is located between the bottom of your femur or thigh bone and attaches to the tibia, also known as your shin. The ACL is made of a slightly elastic tissue that can easily tear or rupture if overstressed. Short-term consequences include disability and pain throughout treatment, which can involve surgery and six to nine months of physical rehabilitation. The long-term consequences of an injured ACL can limit your future participation in sports and other physical activities.

How Does An ACL Injury Occur?

An ACL injury can occur in a variety of sports, with the most popular being basketball, football, tennis and skiing. An ACL injury can occur from direct trauma to the ligament from a car accident or hard fall, causing a strenuous tear or rupture. ACL injuries can also occur in day-to-day activities if you find yourself twisting and turning with your feet still planted on the ground.

ACL Injury Prevention

Learn Proper Form

Almost 80 percent of ACL injuries occur while an athlete is landing from a jump, changing directions, or suddenly decelerating. By learning the appropriate forms for squatting, jumping, lunging, and landing without knee or ankle collapse, you can decrease your risk of potential injury.

Increase Your Strength & Balance

To reduce your risk of an ACL injury, try building additional strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps, gluteus medius and core. Strengthening the hamstrings is especially important for female athletes, since they typically have weaker hamstrings than quadriceps.

Step Up Your Conditioning

Taking the necessary steps towards improving your overall strength and flexibility can effectively reduce your risk of an ACL injury. Training programs are available to assist in conditioning, and include aerobic conditioning, strength training, plyometric exercises, and more.

At Medcom Group, we’ve been supplying rehabilitation equipment, soft foods, and training to individual patients, hospitals and facilities since 1988.Browse our large selection of CPM machines, parts and services online today!