Relatively Simple and Quick Exercise Program Found to Help Prevent Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Female Collegiate Soccer Players

October 24, 2008

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) often require surgery and months of rehabilitation. Such injuries have been a particular concern for female soccer players. Strengthening and flexibility programs that have been found to reduce injuries to the ligament often require special equipment. Researchers looking for a program that could be easily incorporated into regular team practices have found a simple on-field alternative warm-up program that can reduce noncontact ACL injuries in female soccer players, especially those with a history of anterior cruciate ligament injury, according to a study published recently in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

The program focuses on neuromuscular control and proprioceptive training programs involving specialized stretching, strengthening, agility and jumping exercises. A co-author of the study said the new program took only about 20 minutes three times a week. Some recommended exercises include single leg balance, heel touches, wall squats, single leg bridge, lunge step and broad jump.

In the study, participating National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women’s soccer teams were assigned randomly to intervention or control groups. Intervention teams were asked to perform the program 3 times per week during the fall 2002 season. All teams reported athletes’ participation in games and practices and any knee injuries. Injury rates were calculated based on athlete exposures, expressed as rate per 1000 athlete exposures.

Sixty-one teams with 1435 athletes completed the study (852 control athletes; 583 intervention). The overall anterior cruciate ligament injury rate among intervention athletes was 1.7 times less than in control athletes. Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury rate among intervention athletes was 3.3 times less than in control athletes. No anterior cruciate ligament injuries occurred among intervention athletes during practice versus 6 among control athletes. Game-related noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury rates in intervention athletes were reduced by more than half. Intervention athletes with a history of anterior cruciate ligament injury were significantly less likely to suffer another anterior cruciate ligament injury compared with control athletes with a similar history.

In 50 years of practice, Levine & Slavit has represented and obtained results in personal injury lawsuits for many people who have injured their knees, including those who have torn their ACLs. Injuries have been sustained in accidents including in motor vehicle accidents, at construction sites, and in slips, trips and falls. Our personal injury lawyers have represented satisfied clients in suits brought in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County and other upstate counties.

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Relatively Simple and Quick Exercise Program Found to Help Prevent Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Female Collegiate Soccer Players

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