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Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most common injuries in sports. Female athletes between the ages of 14 and 19 years are among those who have the highest incidence of ACL injury (Otsuki 2014). Injury to the ACL during this age is a problem because surgery in skeletally immature patients might cause growth disruption. Surgery and rehabilitation prevent adolescents from participating in sports activities for a long period, affecting healthy physical development. The risk of developing osteoarthritis is significantly increased after an ACL injury (Otsuki 2014). This could be a problem that affects the quality of life as well.
1. Otsuki R, Kuramochi R, Fukubayashi T. Effect of injury prevention training on knee mechanics in female adolescents during puberty. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Apr;9(2):149-56.
Written by Chris Barber, CPT