ACL Injuries Skyrocketing - Experts Stress Prevention

WHAT:  

First it was concussions, and now a new injury has physicians and athletic trainers alarmed because of skyrocketing numbers of young athletes – especially females – who are impacted.

You are invited to a press briefing about the "epidemic" proportions of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and the efforts by Illinois athletic trainers and sports medicine physicians to prevent these injuries and help save the knees of young athletes who are at risk.

The Illinois Athletic Trainers Association (IATA) and sports medicine physicians at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR), are calling for ACL injury screenings and prevention programs for athletes on high school, college and travel teams.

WHO:      

Members of the IATA and MOR, who are physicians for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, will host the press announcement during a Youth Sports Injury Prevention Summit in Chicago.

WHEN:     

1 p.m., Thursday, July 31

WHERE:   

Conference and Learning Center 

U.S. Cellular Field

333 W 35^th St, Chicago, IL

Enter at Gate 3

RSVP:     

Mia Fikaris

[email protected]

(630) 303-1856.

BACKGROUND: 

According to some research, approximately 400,000 ACL injuries occur in the U.S. every year, making ACL tears one of the most common injuries in young athletes today. Physicians have noticed a significant rise in ACL injuries in young athletes – particularly females. MOR sports medicine specialists have documented a three-fold increase in athletes under age 25 in just five years. Research reveals that athletes with ACL injuries are up to 10 times more likely to get knee osteoarthritis early and 50 percent of ACL patients will develop knee arthritis in 10 to 20 years. Studies show that prevention programs can significantly reduce the risk of ACL injuries in young athletes.