ACL Injury and the Female Soccer Player
Marc R. Bernier
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has received a lot of press over the past several years, especially in how it relates to the female athlete. Much of the attention has focused on the seemingly higher injury rates in female athletes as compared to males. Numerous research studies that have been conducted over the past 10 years indicate that females are indeed more susceptible to ACL injuries; most studies report that females are 4-8 times more likely to tear this ligament. The heavily pursued goal that many in the medical community have tried to answer is determining the specific reasons why females suffer from this injury more than males.
Click for the full article at www.usyouthsoccer.org.
Training Techniques, And Their Effect on Frequency of ACL Injuries in Female Soccer Players?
Holly J. Silvers, MPT
Possible prevention strategies for ACL injuries were discussed at a panel briefing during the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. earlier this year.
According to research presented, four risk factors have been studied in order to understand the causes of ACL injury: anatomy, hormones, environmental factors and biomechanics. The studies, including the one conducted at Duke University, indicate that by intervening just within biomechanics, there can be a decrease in the number of significant knee injuries in the female athletic population.
Click for the full article at www.ussoccer.com.
Benefits of Stretching
Kim Stewart
An athlete can benefit in many ways from stretching. The most common reason taught to athletes is that stretching increases flexibility, the ability to move joints through a full range of motion, thereby reducing the risk of injury. Unfortunately, the majority of athletes believe that they are invincible and that an injury will not happen to them.
Click for the full article at www.usyouthsoccer.org.
A Report on Knee Injuries
Dr. Don Kirkendall
Changing direction is a common mechanism of injury to the knee, especially in knee ligament sprains. Twenty-six percent (26%) of players with a knee injury were changing directions while 56% were not.
Click for the full article at www.usyouthsoccer.org.
The Hamstring Epidemic - Pre-Game Preparation and Injury Prevention
Marc R. Bernier
Over the past several decades, the general public has been inundated with information from sports medicine practitioners regarding the prevention of hamstring injuries. One of the focal points of these injury prevention programs has been the use of static stretches as the primary deterrent for hamstring strains, or “pulls” (static stretches are defined as stretching a muscle to lengthened position and holding for a set time; for example bending over and trying to touch your toes and holding for 20 seconds). Unfortunately, the use of static stretches as an injury preventative measure has not been justified by clinical scientific research, which casts some doubt on its usefulness and effectiveness. The goal of this article is to: discuss the appropriate use of static stretches; and discuss the role of the pre-event warm-up in preventing injuries.
Click for the full article at www.usyouthsoccer.org
Creating Team Chemistry
It can be the difference between an ordinary season and an outstanding one
By Dr. Michael Klausner and Dr. David Hoch
Many ingredients go into the making of winning teams, such as talent, size, speed, strength and coachability. All are important, of course. But the intangible that often binds them together is known as “team chemistry.” It can make the difference between an ordinary season and an outstanding one.
A baseball team may possess five players with above-average talent, but they may never go anywhere without that certain bonding of spirit and purposefulness that will enable them to work together harmoniously, dovetailing all their skills willingly and unselfishly for the common good.
Click for full article at www.nscaa.com