Understanding of ACL injuries is still evolving

The Baltimore Sun reports: 

Concussions may have recently taken the spotlight in lacrosse sports medicine, but anterior cruciate ligament injuries are still a major unanswered issue for the sport. ACL tears are the leading cause of missed game and practice time at both the high school and college levels of play for both males and females.

Concussions may have recently taken the spotlight in lacrosse sports medicine, but anterior cruciate ligament injuries are still a major unanswered issue.

ACL tears are the leading cause of missed game and practice time at both the high school and college levels of play for both males and females. Data from the US Lacrosse membership insurance program shows that knee-related claims —primarily ACL injuries — are greater than all other injury payouts combined. In general, ACL injury rates are on the rise but are particularly high in teenage boys and girls, females of all ages and players with a previous history of ACL tear.

The risk factors for initial injury and failure of return to play are multifaceted and include core athletic abilities, lower-extremity biomechanics, fear of reinjury and access to comprehensive medical care. Although most ACL injures are noncontact in nature, video analysis reveals that these injuries are often related to adjustments such as a quick dodge or awkward landing that players must make in response to unanticipated activities around them.

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