SAFEKIDS
ACL PREVENTION
Derek K. Lichota MD
ACL PREVENTION
• Why is this an issue?
– 500,000 injuries a year(estimate)
– Athlete
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Pain
Time lost in sports(6-18 mo.)
Missed school
Late arthritic issues
ACL PREVENTION
• Background
– Male or Female?
• Both but females have about 3-5 times the incidence of
occurrence
ACL PREVENTION
• Background
– Contact or noncontact?
• Both: non-contact is at least 70% of the injuries
ACL PREVENTION
• BRACE OR NO BRACE?
– No evidence to support prophylactic bracing
– Is it a reasonable thing to do?
– What is the cost?
ACL PREVENTION
• Brace costs
• $350 for off the shelf brace
• Marketing tool
• Is it indicated?
ACL PREVENTION
• FITNESS
– General fitness
– Sport specific fitness
– Sport specific athletic skills
ACL PREVENTION
• PROPRIOCEPTION
– What is it?
• The ability to know where the joint is, in time and
space.
ACL PREVENTION
• PROPRIOCEPTION
– Why is this important?
• We might be able to decrease the incidence of ACL
injury by 50% or more
• Females are at a greater risk than males
ACL PREVENTION
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Conditioning
Strength
Flexibility
Sport’s specificity
ACL PREVENTION
• Sport specific activity
– Jump stop
– Sudden deaccleration
– Cut and pivot
– Hyperextension
ACL PREVENTION
• PEP PROGRAM
– Prevent injury
– Enhance Performance
– Santa Monica California
ACL PREVENTION
• PEP program
– 15 min three times per week
– Adding plyometrics
– Neuromuscular training
ACL PREVENTION
• What does it cost?
– 15 minutes of warm up
– No special equipment
– Commitment from players, coaches, trainers, and
physicians
ACL PREVENTION
• SOFT LANDINGS
ACL PREVENTION
• These programs have shown a decrease in the
incidence of knee injuries by up to 70%
ACL PREVENTION
• WEB INTERACTION
– ACL PREVENTION
ACL PREVENTION
• QUESTIONS?
ACL PREVENTION
• THANK YOU