Order Number |
636738393092 |
Type of Project |
ESSAY |
Writer Level |
PHD VERIFIED |
Format |
APA |
Academic Sources |
10 |
Page Count |
3-12 PAGES |
Navas 1
Sports Medicine and ACL Injuries
Throughout the years, ACL injuries have been common in adolescents. Women today are more active and involved in sports than they have ever been. An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the knee is one of the most common injuries among female athletes. A ruptured ACL is one of the most painful injuries an athlete can get. When they injure their knee on the field, it’s the first thing that comes to mind; for many, it’s their worst nightmare. An athlete’s career may be cut short due to a damaged ACL. A torn ACL can lead to many operations, months of intense training and therapy, and a great deal of discomfort. It necessitates complete patience, since pushing too hard can result in a worsening of the injury. Women’s pelvises are often wider than men’s, causing the thigh bones to angle down more sharply, putting additional pressure on the inside of the knee.
It’s a particularly prevalent injury in soccer, which is characterized by many sudden pauses. Soccer is dangerous to the ACL not only because of the many stops and starts, but also because it is a game of jumps, falls, and slide-tackles, all of which put constant stress on the ACL throughout the 90-minute game. It’s a known fact that females are more prone to ACL injuries than males. As quoted in the article, “ACL injuries are three to five times more common in female athletes than male (Keyser, 2008). This is a result of anatomical, biomechanical, strength, and hormonal differences. An example of an important anatomical gender difference is the bones of female knees have less room around the ACL than male knees causing it to be more prone to injury” (McDaniel para. 6). Females have slightly different anatomy that may put them at a higher risk for ACL injuries. The article “Physical therapy in adolescents with knee injuries treated with arthroscopy”, by Liliana Catan, starts by talking about how knee joints frequently happen to young athletes. The patients had been addressed to arthroscopy. Arthroscopy is done after a knee injury depending on the injury like with a meniscal tear or acl tears.
In sports medicine there are many different solutions that can prevent this injury from happening to young female athletes. It is key for the physician to make sure that the athlete is as healthy as possible to be able to return-to-play. The article states, “Physicians working in the world of competitive sports face unique ethical challenges, many of which center around conflicts of interest. Team-employed physicians have obligations to act in the club’s best interest while caring for the individual athlete” (Testoni para 1). Team-employed physicians try to get their player back on the field as soon as possible. The muscular protection or rotational knee stiffness present in young female athletes of similar stature and sport was assessed in a University of Michigan study. The goal of this study was to see how vulnerable female athletes are to ACL injury. The findings suggested that dynamic neuromuscular training given to a high-risk group of female athletes could reduce the chance of ACL injury. ACL injury prevention should be the top priority and one of the most critical factors to consider. Warming up is an important part of preventing ACL injuries since it prepares the body for physical activities. Warming up properly prepares the heart, lungs, muscles, joints, and mind for rigorous exercise.
The ACL must be surgically repaired and reconstructed to restore knee stability. A tissue graft will be used to replace your injured ligament. This graft serves as a foundation for the growth of a new ligament. Grafts are available from a variety of sources. The patellar tendon, which runs between the kneecap and the shinbone, is frequently used. Grafts are frequently taken from the hamstring tendons in the rear of the thigh. The quadriceps tendon, which connects the kneecap to the thigh, is sometimes employed. After surgery rehab is needed for injury like that to return to your sport but the times for everyone can be different due to your body. Whether surgery is used in your therapy or not, rehabilitation is critical in bringing you back to your normal routine. You can regain knee strength and motion with the help of a physical therapy program. Although pain is a huge factor during the recovery process, it will all be worth it at the end of the journey.
In conclusion, an ACL rupture will have a detrimental impact on an athlete’s career due to the high frequency of the injury in sports, the increased risk once the knee is injured, and the problems that follow surgery. Many athletes struggle to return to sports because they lack the stability they once had and are afraid of re-injuring themselves. This type of injury is all too common among athletes, especially female athletes. As you hurt your knee, your chances of suffering another injury increase, and this trend will continue as you sustain more injuries. Going back to your sport can also be hard because of the fear factor after the injury. Finally, ACL surgery and the overall injury takes a toll on your mentally health and also it makes health centers billions of dollars every year.