When a young athlete collapses in pain because of a knee injury, thoughts quickly turn to the worst-case scenario: an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Thankfully, the outlook for ACL injury recovery has improved, mainly because surgeons are using a less invasive procedure that does not damage the growth plate and allows most athletes to continue playing a high-impact sport after recovery.
Also, specific exercises have been shown to reduce the chance of ACL injuries, especially in young women, according to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention (
Reproduced with permission from Care of the Young Athlete, 2nd edition. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009.
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