Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Prevention Strategies

Abstract

ACL injuries are a major challenge in many sports and the need for effective and efficacious prevention tools is essential. Most ACL injuries are noncontact in nature and being a female participating in a pivoting sport is a major risk factor. The main injury mechanisms are a cutting movement and a one-leg landing after a jump. Several prevention programs have successfully reduced the number of ACL injuries in different sports. The prevention programs consist of neuromuscular training, including lower extremity strength and balance exercises, in combination with core and trunk control. The chapter will present several prevention programs and discuss the future challenges in relation to ACL prevention.