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Knee Injuries in Soccer

Knee Injuries | Dr. Corrie takes a look at ACL and knee ligament injury prevalence in soccer, the common knee mechanism of injuries, and proven knee injury prevention programs.

What is FIFA 11+?

11+ is a complete warm-up program to reduce injuries among male and female football players aged 14 years and older. Teams that performed 11+ at least twice a week had 30 – 50% less injured players. FIFA 11 Program HERE

3 Reasons why Soccer players may be at risk for ACL &Knee Injuries

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the most common injuries seen among soccer players to-date. This injury is mainly associated with soccer because:

  • Typical movements in soccer can cause stress on an ACL—High-velocity, change in direction, pivots and rotation of lower extremities can affect the function and stability of an ACL. For example, when a player passes the ball from one side of the field to the other using a “right-to-left” motion they rotate with the left foot fixed to the ground around the left knee but are kicking the ball across their body. That rotation happens at a velocity and force that is well beyond that of normal activity, which can lead to an ACL injury.
  • Contact vs. non-contact with another player—ACL injuries can occur when contact is made with another player—such as a tackle from the side causing a valgus force to the knee or “knock knee”. Similarly, non-contact soccer injuries to the ACL are commonly caused by the repetitive and quick movements mentioned above or landing awkwardly.
  • Anatomy of a player—The anatomy of an athlete, especially female soccer players, can contribute to the potential risk of an ACL injury for the following reasons:
    • Female soccer athletes differ from male athletes because of the alignment of their hips and knees. This difference is associated with knee valgus alignment, which increases the likelihood of ACL injury especially when movements are completed in high velocity.
    • The femoral notch, where the ACL lives, tends be more narrow in females than in males. So if the knee or femur twists around the tibia the ACL is impinged upon by bone causing injury.
    • Developing studies also have indicated that hormonal changes in women can impact the likelihood of sustaining an ACL injury.

Learn more about ACL and Knee Injuries from Rehab 2 Perform HERE

Rehab 2 Perform specializes in preventing risk to re-injury and empowering you with the tools to stay active. We serve the Annapolis, Bethesda, Columbia, Frederick, Gambrills, Germantown and Mt. Airy areas in Maryland. Contact us today at 1(301) 798- 4838 or schedule an appointment by visiting us here today. 

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