An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Risk Screening and Reduction Program for High School Female Athletes: A...

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries impose significant physical, mental, and financial burdens on athletes.
• Screening and educating high-risk athletes are crucial for potentially reducing future injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a feasible community pre-season screening program for high school female athletes.
• To identify modifiable neuromuscular and biomechanical risk factors associated with non-contact ACL injuries.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 15 female athletes (soccer and basketball).
• A four-station screening program assessed range of motion (ROM), jump-landing technique, strength, and balance.
• Athletes were classified as high-risk or low-risk based on established literature cutoff scores.

Main Results:

• All athletes screened positive for at least one modifiable risk factor in lower extremity ROM.
• Multiple athletes exceeded high-risk cutoff scores for more than one ROM parameter.
• Deficits in lower extremity ROM were the most prevalent finding across all tested categories.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified high school female athletes with multiple, addressable risk factors for ACL injury.
• Implementing pre-season screening programs is supported to identify and manage injury risk factors.
• Targeted training and exercises can address identified deficits and potentially mitigate ACL injury risk.