Reducing An ACL Essay

There are measures that can be taken to reduce the chances of tearing an ACL. Proper training techniques can help change how quickly your muscles contract. This then keeps the ACL from being strained (Benedetti). It is especially important for women to perform these exercises as women are eight times more likely than men to tear an ACL (Lee, Yun, and Marty Munson.). Many medical professionals believe this to be due to women having less muscles surrounding their knees than men and because women are generally less athletic than men (Lamb). Women have a tendency to land with their knees “knocking” or pointing inward. This position puts a lot of stress on the ACL. Women also have a wider pelvic girdle, which puts more stress on the inside parts of the leg.
Certain exercises can reduce an individual's risk of tearing an ACL. Learning proper jumping and landing techniques is one way. The proper landing technique is to land softly on the balls of your feet with the knees slightly bent. Knees should be shoulder …show more content…
This physical activity strengthens the hamstrings. Strength training tends to focus on the quadriceps and pushes working on the hamstrings into the background. Certain movements like suddenly stopping and starting, or pivoting puts a lot of stress on the knees. New research suggests that hamstrings can aid knees with the force from these movements, reducing the stress on the knees. Muscles are very elastic; however, ligaments can easily rip when stretched (Lee, Yun, and Marty Munson.). Laura J. Huston is a researcher in orthopedic surgery at the University of Michigan Medical Center, "These exercises aren't designed to build strength, but they can help your timing in cuts and turns and get your legs acclimated to the kinds of maneuvers that cause ACL problem (Lee, Yun, and Marty Munson.). It is important that these exercises are pushed to be taught and performed in practices, especially in female