Click here to return to the subsection Female-Athlete Knee-Injury Incidence and Prevention.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Effectiveness of a neuromuscular and proprioceptive training program in preventing the incidence of ACL injuries in female athletes: two-year follow-up
Authors: Bert R. Mandelbaum, MD; Holly J. Silvers, MPT; Diane Watanabe, MS, ATC; John Knarr, PT, ATC; Steve Thomas, MPT; Letha Griffin, MD; Donald T. Kirkendall, PhD, William Garrett Junior, MD, PhD
July 2003.
Institutional information: Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation, 1301 Twentieth Street, Suite 150, Santa Monica, California 90404, Telephone (310) 829-2663 ext. 1283, Fax: (310) 315-5260, Email contact: hollysilverspt@aol.com
This article shows the clear benefits attainable using a sedulously pursued injury-prevention-training program: approximately a halving of ACL-injury rate. The program studied was known as PEP (Prevent Injury, Enhance Performance). Because this training program is quite similar to other female-athlete knee-injury-prevention programs (most notably Cincinnati Sportsmetrics, as well as programs which follow in its wake, for example the Girls Can Jump series), the advantages of pursuing PEP would also be obtained by using these other programs.
Abstract
This study focused on the effectiveness of implementing a neuromuscular and proprioceptive sports (soccer) specific training program to reduce the incidence of ACL ligament injuries in 14-18 year old female soccer players. The PEP (Prevent Injury, Enhance Performance) ACL Prevention Program focused on biomechanical risk factors, stressing avoidance of high-risk behaviors and increasing kinesthetic awareness of the enrolled subjects. A comprehensive educational videotape and literature packet was distributed to the coach of each enrolled soccer team in the Fall 2000 season. The video consisted of a twenty-minute alternative warm-up program focusing on injury awareness and avoidance techniques, lower extremity strength and trunk stability, flexibility, progressive plyometrics, and sports specific agilities. The program was completed two to three times a week over the duration of the 2000 and 2001 soccer seasons (twelve weeks). The video emphasized proper biomechanical control via visual and auditory cues, including correct and incorrect performance of landing techniques, plyometrics, agilities and strengthening exercises. Random site visits were made to address quality assurance and compliance issues. During the 2000 season, 1041 female subjects (52 teams) and 1902 players (95 teams) served as the age and skill matched non-randomized control. Of the enrolled subjects, 2 confirmed ACL tears (.2 ACL injuries/athlete/1,000 exposures) were reported versus 32 confirmed ACL tears (1.7 ACL injuries/athlete/1,000 exposures) reported from the control group. In 2000, there was an overall 88% decrease in ACL ligament injury in the enrolled subjects compared to the control group. In year two of this study (2001 season), 844 female athletes (45 teams) were enrolled in the study. There were 1913 female athletes (112 teams) served as the control. Four ACL tears were reported in the intervention group (.47 injuries/athlete/1,000 exposures) versus thirty-five ACL tears reported in the control group (1.8 injuries/athlete/1,000 exposures) (Table 1). This corresponds to an overall 74% reduction in ACL tears in the intervention group compared to an age and skill-matched control group. Utilizing a neuromuscular training program may have a direct benefit in decreasing the number of ACL ligament injuries in female soccer players.
Table 1
ACL Tears Reported
|
Enrolled Athletes |
Control | |||
|
Years of Study |
2000 |
2001 |
2000 |
2001 |
|
# of Players # of Teams # of ACL Tears Injuries/athlete |
1041 52 2 0.2 |
844 45 4 0.47 |
1905 95 32 1.7 |
1913 112 35 1.8 |
|
Overall Decrease in
ACL Injury for Year 2000: (1.7 – 0.2)/1.7* 1000 = 88% Overall Decrease in
ACL Injury for Year 2001: (1.8 -.47)/1.8* 1000 = 74% | ||||
To access the full text of this article, please click here.
There is no charge for viewing articles. However, a password is required.
If you do not already have a password, please e-mail Michael Frind at frind@execulink.com for one.
Prior to requesting a password, please make certain you have read the
Site Terms of Use
pertaining to this site.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Click here to return to the Main Entrance Page of the Knee Library.
Looking for the Main Index Page of Bob's ACL WWWBoard? Click here!
To find recent postings on Bob's ACL WWWBoard, use the Search Engine.
To find older postings on Bob's ACL WWWBoard, use the On-Line Archive.
Site Terms of Use and Aspects of Copyright
