Australian rules football, rugby union, rugby league, netball, soccer, and skiing are all sports synonymous with winter time in Australia. What you may not know is that these sports are also the most frequently associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures within Australia (Janssen et al, 2011).
What is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)?
The ACL is one of the four major ligaments in the knee responsible for stabilising the joint. The anterior cruciate is arguably the most important of these ligaments and, if injured, is certainly the hardest to recover from. An ACL rupture (complete tear) is one of the most-feared athletic injuries, as it generally requires surgery and a 7-9 month recovery period.
Prevalence of ACL injuries in Australia
A recent study conducted by Zbrojkiewicz, Vertullo, and Grayson (2018) looked at the rates of ACL reconstruction for young Australians between 2000-2015. As the winter sports season has just kicked off, it is important to be aware of their findings and how they may impact you.
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