ACL Injury Essay

In the United States, there are usually between 100,000 and 200,000 Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) ruptures per year. (Osborne. M, 2012) (Why do females injure their knees four to six times more than men…and what can you do about it?) (ucdenver.edu) An ACL injury is the most common injury in female athletes. Female athletes are more prone to having an ACL injury because of the lack of muscle strength and control of their (Chang. W, 2014; Joseph et al., 2014). This injury can lead to reconstructive surgery and long-term osteoarthritis at a younger age. (Kiefer et al., 2015) Neuromuscular Training (MNT) focuses on the strength of the knee, as well as the body’s awareness of balance. (Balogn. D, 2015; Kiefer et al., 2015). In this research, Neuromuscular Training will be analyzed to determine if this method of training is a preventive solution for ACL injuries in athletic female athletes. This information will provide a greater …show more content…
W, 2014). In her studies, she was able to see the improvements from Neuromuscular Training within female athletes and how they differ. The NMT sessions included box jumping, wobble board, agility drills, stretching, pivoting, and balance mat exercises (Chang. W, 2014; Kiefer et al., 2015). The studies have shown three factors Neuromuscular Training has impacted female athletes. One, the increase of strength within the hamstring muscle allows the knee to have more stability when landing, jumping, and the changing of direction, which can reduce the risk of injury (Chang. W, 2014). Second, the enhancement of static response actions creates a better awareness to the body on when to contract a muscle when needed (Chang. W, 2014). Lastly, joint stability improves by the level of stress when lading from any position causes a joint to react to (Chang. W,