Cathe- did you see today's USA Today?

[cmiyachi]

There was an article on how female athletes are prone to ACL injuries. They showed exercises to do to strengthen the muscles aroudn the ACL area. The cool thing is that you do many of the moves in your tapes - like ski side-to-side and jumping on one leg.

Thanks for giving us these ACL prevention excercises because if we are doing your tapes, we are definitely female athletes!

Chris

 

[SooFit]

Hi Chris!

Not Cathe here, but curious, what does ACL stand for?

Thanks!

susan

 

[DebbieH]

Susan!

ACL: The Anterior Cruciate Ligament
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a ligament that connects the tibia to the femur. It serves to prevent the tibia (leg) from moving forward relative to the femur (thigh). The ACL is in the center of the knee - it crosses the PCL - hence the name - "cruciate".

How does someone injure the ACL?
It is frequently injured in contact sports (such as football) and pivoting sports (such as soccer and skiing) - although there are many scenarios for injury to this ligament. Usually the patient complains of a sudden injury to the knee and the inability to walk right after the accident. Often, there is a significant amount of swelling.

What are the symptoms of an ACL injury?

Initially, the symptoms are pain, and fairly immediate swelling. Often patients will complain of hearing a loud "pop", which is the actual ligament tearing.

After the pain and swelling resolve, patients complain of episodes of instability, or giving-way. The knee feels loose.

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.smilies-world.de/Smilies/Smilies_klein_1/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[Stargazer]

I read something recently that suggested women were more prone to this then men because of hormones: The same hormones that allow your pelvis to 'stretch' during childbirth...-joy

 

[hounddogs]

I hyper-extended my knee and tore the left ACL over twenty years ago completely severing it. Couldn't get it checked until I had insurance five years later, by which time I had a wee baby and couldn't be on crutches, so they just scraped off the torn cartilege and left the ligament severed (arthroscopically). That's what got me into fitness as a practice--I had to strngthen the muscles all around the knee to make it as normal as possible. Cathe has been a huge factor in my continued ability to stay active with this injury.

Basketball players are really susceptible--especially with the hormonal changes that loosen up the ligaments monthly--because our femurs go from hip to knee at an inward angle because our hips are generally wider than men's. All that landing from jumping after rebounds, etc. really plays havoc.

It's really important for women to land softly toe-ball-heel (or snowball heel). Good leg strength aids that a lot.

 

[SooFit]

RE: Susan!

WOW, Debbie, thanks for such a great and thorough explanation!

This forum and the people on it are just the best.

Susan

 

[NittyGritty]

I just read an article about this (but I can't find the link!) but it said one thing women can do to strengthen the knee is to improve their hamstrings and calf muscles as well as their quadriceps, that all three muscle groups support and protect the knee.