Female athletes suffer ACL tears at a 2-to 8-fold greater rate than do male athletes participating in the same sports. Seventy percent are non-contact injuries. It is estimated that 38,000 ACL injuries occur in female athletes per year in the USA at an estimated annual cost of $646 million.
In addition to medical costs, ACL injuries may have long term impact on knee joint health because of potential secondary cartilage damage. Other traumatic effects of these injuries for the athlete include the loss of a full season of competition and possible loss of scholarship funding.
ACL injury prevention programs may present a cost-effective solution to these problems.
While research is still ongoing, studies show that specific neuromuscular training programs reduce ACL injury rates. Most neuromuscular training programs target flexibility, strength, agility, and jump skill instruction with relatively little emphasis on core training.
Studies demonstrate that deficiencies in core musculature increase the risk of lower extremity injury and that females have less core stability than males.
DOC physicians Scott Paschal and Jim Montgomery are endorsing the CORE training program developed by Corey Eaton, senior athletic trainer for DISD. This program utilizes stability balls in a comprehensive six week class, based on the philosophy that core stability is the key to optimizing proper landing position and enhancing neuromuscular control. The CORE program identifies core deficits through proper pre-screening, establishes a core stability foundation first, and then implements jump and agility training to reduce ACL and lower extremity injury risk and to enhance athletic performance.
Benefits of CORE
- Reduces risk of other lower extremity injuries and overuse syndromes
- Reduces risk of an ACL tear
- Reduces post-tear life-long knee health issues
- Enhances correct landing position
- Enhances athletic performance
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