|| FROM THE EDITOR
Center Circle : ACL Speech
DR . JAY MARTIN // MEMBER SINCE 1977 , OHIO WESLEYAN HEAD COACH
5 From the Editor is a recurring column in Soccer Journal .
The following is an assignment from my class in the Ohio University Master ’ s Program . Each student is asked to prepare a speech for a group of soccer coaches . I have published some of the best in Soccer Journal . Here is Rudy ’ s speech on an ongoing and timely topic for all women coaches .
RUDY MEREDITH //
In the United States , there are over 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament injuries each year ( Johnson et al ., 2015 ). Females are at more risk for noncontact ACL injuries . In fact , there is a two to eight times larger number of injuries in females over males ( Johnson et al ., 2015 ). As the women ’ s soccer coach at Yale University , this is very concerning to me . An ACL injury may not only end an athlete ’ s career , it can also negatively affect his or her health for the rest of her life . For the good of the athlete , for the good of the team , we need to raise awareness of the potential risk factors of this painful and debilitating injury . We must educate our players , coaches , trainers and parents in proper exercises that minimize the risk of ACL injuries .
This problem is getting worse . In fact , the number of ACL female athletes has increased by more than 900 % since 1972 ( Horwitz , 2016 ). I have found that females are anatomically predisposed to Anterior Cruciate Ligament injuries because of the narrow notch width of the joint , anterior tibia translation , wider quadriceps angle , and increased joint laxity . Physical factors that raise the risk include increased hamstring flexibility , lack of hip strength , poor balance , predominant quadriceps strength , and fatigue .
When we think about ACL injuries , we think about the shortterm effects . What is the recovery time ? How long will the athlete be out of practice ? How long will she be out of the game ? But we also have to consider the long-term effects . An alarming 50 % of patients diagnosed with ACL injuries developed osteoarthritis within 10 to 20 years ( Lohmander , Englund , & Dahl , 2007 ). So you ’ re looking at a 30-year old with a disease that causes her pain for the rest of their life , this pain can inhibit her from participating in an active lifestyle , perhaps having to cut out running , jumping and the sports she once loved to play .
Soccer has one of the highest rates of ACL tears . Between 2007-2012 , a survey taken by athletic trainers concluded that out of 100 high school athletes with ACL injuries , 53.2 % played soccer , seconded by a 26.5 % rate in basketball ( Hewett et al ., 2008 ). So , you may ask : How do we minimize these injuries without stopping the sport all together ? What can we do ? The most effective preventative training procedures are core and lower extremity strength training , hamstring to quadriceps ratio , and the amount of training .
The most comprehensive program in the prevention of female ACL injuries is the FIFA II Plus Program . In 2003 , a group of experts from all over the world developed the program in order to reduce damages to the ACL during matches and in practices . According to F-MARC , “ teams that performed the “ FIFA 11 + ” at least twice a week had 30-50 % fewer injured players ” ( Dvorak et al ., 2001 ).
I will also add that in my own experience , I have seen that these exercises do work in ACL prevention , because they focus on lower extremity and core strengthening , balance , coordination in addition to cardiovascular fitness . The exercises also assist the athletes in maintaining awareness of their alignment in order to train muscles to avoid movements that cause injury . One example is a squat performed with an elastic band around the thighs , while facing a mirror , focusing on preventing her knees from buckling inward . A female ’ s knees are more likely to buckle inward because of their Q-angle and pelvic tilt , so this exercise helps the athlete develop an awareness of her knee placement . This is just one example of an exercise that prevents ACL injuries .
We only have two knees . We need these knees for the rest of our lives . So we have to take care of them . As coaches of young people — people that are prone to take more risks , making them more prone to injury , it is our responsibly to care for them . It is our job . As coaches and trainers and mentors and role models , I urge you to raise awareness of the risk factors of female ACL injuries . I urge you to invest in a training program that helps prevent ACL injuries . We owe it to our athletes . n
References available in the online issue .
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