Monday, October 20, 2008

In simplicity there is beauty, redux

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Prevent Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Female Collegiate Soccer Players- Am. J. Sports Med. 2008; 36; 1476
Thanks Tracy Fober for bringing this to my attention. 70 hr. work weeks are turning my brain to mush.
This knee ACL prevention program dropped female collegiate soccer injury rates an overall 41%, and non contact injuries 70%. Very impressive. The program is free online at:
I found it interesting that the study used the replacement exercises to "alleviate boredom". Take a look at both protocols, and see if you came to the same conclusion I did.

3 comments:

JH said...

Speaking of ACLs. I just started wirking with the Men's DIII team here where I live. From the beginning there was one kid who wasn't able to participate in the program i put together for him because he had "knee pain". Well once practices started he tried to go all out with the rest of the team. He planted for a jump shot and the ACL ruptured. All i know about what he was doing for his knee prior to this incident was focused on training muscles and not movements.

Pete L said...

It strikes me that the second program is a lot more functional than the first. Which I guess might also make it less boring from an athletes perspective?

Without reading the original journal article, I'm struck by how extensive the entire program is and while the results are compelling, it leaves me wondering what aspects of it really are essential to realizing the results. Perhaps that is what you're getting at with the title of your post?

Joe Przytula said...

You hit the nail right on the head Pete! I also agree with your observation "it leaves me wondering what aspects of it really are essential to realizing the results"= there are many roads to Rome, sort of speak.