PERHAPS one of the most feared injuries in all of sports, an ACL tear happens when there is an internal rotation of the hip, but the lower limb doesn’t follow in the same direction. What happens is that the ligament preventing the lower leg (tibia) from anterior translation is torn.
Why does this happen more now?
Lack of physical preparation
A lot of people enter sports and look to get fit by playing, rather than getting fit first before playing. Sports environments are dynamic environments and one must have good fitness levels for participation to decrease the risk of mishaps. An ACL tear can also happen as a result of poor training design. Trainers armed with good motives must ensure that they don’t have poorly designed programs. I was speaking with two competitive elite athletes with nagging shoulder injuries. As we interviewed them, it was clear to us that their previous training programs may have caused their injuries.
Too much specialization
In most cases, children specialize in only one sport leading to muscular imbalances. The faulty movement patterns contribute to injuries especially as they approach Peak Height Velocity (growth spurt). The rapid growth, the lack of proprioception, plus faulty movement patterns make a recipe for disaster.
Rigid footwear
Athletes are wearing footwear that are rigid and are not really “constructed” for them. Players who wear Lebron James’ shoes should at least have 70 percent of Lebron’s strength to maximize the shoe, otherwise the shoe can be a hindrance to performance. Why does rigid footwear contribute to injuries? With all the technology in our shoes now, the technology determines the mechanics of our feet and could cause injury as the natural motions are limited. Further, locking the ankle with brace, tape or high-cut shoes prevent the foot from moving, which could cause increased stress to the knee joint.
Next week, I will focus on the practices we’ve employed successfully in the prevention of sports injuries.