Understanding ACL Injuries and Preventive Measures: A Guide for Young Athletes

Hello everyone! Dr. Brant Hulsebus here, and welcome to another edition of Ask the Chiropractor. Today, our podcast is a bit different because we have a special guest. I recently read a cool research paper on PubMed about ACL injuries, especially in athletes. And guess what? My good friend, Coach Mason, had also read it and was already ahead of me!

Meet Coach Mason

Coach Mason is an athletic trainer at Movement Fitness. He specializes in helping athletes, especially girls, recover from ACL injuries and get back to their sports stronger and safer. He uses different tests to find any weak spots in their muscles and help fix them before injuries happen.

The Importance of Prevention

Coach Mason and I work together a lot. We believe that preventing injuries is the best way to keep young athletes on the field. One important thing we learned from the research paper is that most ACL injuries (75%) happen without any contact, just from running or turning quickly. If hip muscles are too weak, you might be at risk for an ACL injury. But, with proper training, these injuries can be prevented. Coach Mason uses special muscle tests to check if athletes are at risk and help them strengthen weak areas.

Real-Life Stories

I had a daughter who played soccer last year. One of her teammates tore her ACL and missed the whole season. She had to have surgery, which isn’t fun at any age. Imagine going to a dance like homecoming on crutches! Coach Mason told us that ACL injuries are more common in girls than boys. Out of 5 girls, 1 girl is likely to tear an ACL, especially in sports like soccer and basketball. That’s why it’s super important to watch for signs and take steps to prevent them.

What To Do If You’re At Risk

If you think you might be at risk for an ACL injury, or if you know someone who is, it’s important to get checked out. Coach Mason does screenings and teaches teams how to prevent these injuries. We preach prevention in chiropractic, and Coach Mason does the same in athletic training. He’s even coming to my office in Rockford on the 21st to do some screenings. If you’re in the area, come by to get checked out. We’ll have sign-up sheets available, and you can also contact Movement Fitness directly to schedule a screening.

The Road to Recovery

If you’ve already had an ACL injury, it’s crucial to take your time coming back to sports. Even if a doctor clears you at six months, there’s still a lot of strengthening to do. Make sure all your muscles are balanced and you’re running correctly. Coach Mason advises not to return to sports before nine months. If your muscle sizes are uneven or you feel something isn’t right, get extra help to avoid more injury.

Working Together for Better Health

As a chiropractor, I’ve learned that bad knees often mean a bad back later on. So, preventing knee injuries also helps your overall health. Coach Mason and I work together to keep our athletes healthy and strong. If someone he’s helping has an issue that needs adjusting, I help out, and then they go back to him for more training. Thank you for listening and reading about ACL injuries and preventive measures. If you have any questions or want to get screened, reach out to us. Keeping athletes safe and healthy is our main goal. Stay healthy and strong! Dr. Brant Hulsebus and Coach Mason