Preventing an ACL Injury in Kansas City
At F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic, we treat thousands of patients each year for ACL injuries across our 5 Kansas City metro locations.
Many patients ask us if there is anything they can do to prevent future ACL injuries. Preventing an ACL Injury in Kansas City is easy when you get tips from the pros. Read on to learn more about ACL Injury Prevention.
What is the ACL’s purpose?
ACL injuries are increasingly common in sports. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a thick band of tissue in the knee joint that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia).
This ligament’s purpose is to prevent the tibia from moving too far forward under the femur, as well as to help stabilize the knee during twisting movements.
ACLs are typically ruptured during a twisting movement or with hyperextension of the knee joint. 70% of ACL injuries are non-traumatic and are caused during a cutting or pivoting movement or during single leg landings. Traumatic injuries occur due to a blow to the outside of the knee.
Who has the biggest risk for an ACL injury?
ACL injuries occur most often between 15 and 45 years old. The biggest risk factor for an ACL tear is previous injury to the area.
When a tear has already occurred, there is ~15% greater risk for re-injury. Another risk factor includes decreased hip and core strength.
Additionally, females are at a higher risk than males due to their anatomy and because they tend to be more dominant with their quadriceps muscles.
Landing patterns where the knee moves inward is also a major indicator that the ACL is being put under a compromising load.
How can an ACL injury in Kansas City be prevented?
Injury prevention screening can be helpful to identify the factors that put you at greater risk for an ACL injury.
The screenings will look at muscle strength and motor control to set you up on a program to optimize movement patterns and also work on speed and agility to improve sport performance while minimizing the risk of injury.
The earlier you seek preventative care, the better your long-term outcomes will be for preventing injury.
If you’ve already suffered an ACL tear, typical return to sport can take 8 weeks for a non-operative case and 4 to 6 months for an operative case. Rehabilitation includes restoring normal movement, improving strength, and correcting movement patterns to prevent recurrence.
Turn to F.I.T. to help with preventing an ACL injury in Kansas City
The doctors at F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic are all qualified to help you reach your sport goals at any stage.
We currently have five locations and serve Downtown Kansas City and the Kansas City Metro area as a whole, including patients in North KC, Liberty, Overland Park, Shawnee, Olathe, Gardner, Leawood, Prairie Village, Belton, Lees Summit, Blue Springs, and Lawrence.
Contact F.I.T. Muscle & Joint Clinic today or try our Virtual Consultation Tool for more information about what treatments may be best for you. New patients are always welcome!
