Abstract
Soccer is becoming an increasingly popular sport amongst women. Common movements during play, such as jumping and cutting, require rapid acceleration and deceleration of multiple lower-limb joints. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which contributes to stabilization of the knee, is often injured during these events. ACL injury typically requires costly surgery, extended time away from sports, and jeopardizes long-term joint health. Due to sex-specific factors such as menstruation and anatomical disadvantages, women are more susceptible to tearing their ACL. Injury often occurs in non-contact scenarios during rapid acceleration or deceleration movements. Research has examined these movements and established several kinematic and kinetic mechanisms as well as muscle activation patterns that frequently occur at the time of injury, however results tend to vary based on population. This article summarizes recent and relevant literature of ACL injury mechanisms and highlights the lack of specific research in the high-risk female soccer athlete population. Due to inconclusive risk factors, injury prevention programs within this population have been inconsistent. ACL injury risk for female soccer athletes should be closer examined so that more specific injury risks can be established, and effective protective measures can be taken. Raised awareness of this need may capture attention in the research and medical communities and potentially stimulate the development of strategies that limit future ACL injury and thus the challenges it brings to the high-risk female soccer athlete.
Highlights
The sport of soccer has been played both recreationally and competitively since the mid-19th century[1]
Injury often occurs in non-contact scenarios during rapid acceleration or deceleration movements. Research has examined these movements and established several kinematic and kinetic mechanisms as well as muscle activation patterns that frequently occur at the time of injury, results tend to vary based on population
The purpose of this review is to provide clinicians, sports medicine professionals, strength & conditioning professionals, etc. with recent and relevant literature regarding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk while highlighting the lack of specific research for the high-risk female soccer athlete population
Summary
The sport of soccer has been played both recreationally and competitively since the mid-19th century[1]. Female participation has increased both globally and within the United States, who register 1.6 million female players, the most in the world[2] With this increase, there have been increases in injuries, one of the most notable being to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)[3]. Several of soccer’s most common movements such as jumping & landing, changing directions, and sprinting[4], put the athlete at risk due to their high-intensity, explosive nature. During these athletic movements, it is typical for high forces, high loading rates, and high power to act both externally and internally to the body, potentially leading to injury. Journal of Orthopedics and Orthopedic Surgery mechanisms this population faces will drive more specific research, and subsequently, more specified prevention programs
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