Sports Medicine
Hawaii Rush is currently seeking a partnership with one of the elite health care providers in the state. The club is looking forward to the opportunity of providing its members with the services of a dedicated athletic trainer.
Injury Care Education
This information is from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Compared with males, female athletes in specific sports are three to four times more likely to injure their knees - a problem orthopaedic research is committed to solving.
Women and ACL injuries
When you twist your knee or fall on it, you can tear a stabilizing ligament inside the knee joint (anterior cruciate ligament or ACL) that connects the thighbone to the shinbone. Although both men and women injure the ACL in non-contact situations (frequently in soccer, basketball and volleyball), orthopaedic research data collected since 1995 show a difference in ACL injury patterns:
> The incidence of ACL injuries among women basketball players is twice that for men. (Nearly 60 percent of ACL injuries in female basketball players occur when landing from a jump.)
> Female soccer players are four times more likely to suffer an ACL tear than their male counterparts. The majority of ACL injuries occur in females aged 15-25, and orthopaedic researchers have long debated why. At a 1999 consensus meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers discussed factors that can explain the increase in ACL injuries among the female athletic population:
> Biomechanical. Females tend to place more emphasis on quadriceps muscles, and this may be a significant reason for increased risk of ACL injuries. Orthopaedic researchers say females should learn to use their hamstring muscles more often. Also, females tend to land on a flat foot rather than their toes, which can contribute to increased injury rates.
> Hormonal. No modification of activity or restriction from sports is recommended at any time during the menstrual cycle. A woman's hormones do not increase the chance of ACL injury, but researchers say further investigation is warranted.
> Environmental. Functional knee braces do not prevent ACL injury. Although athletic shoes may improve performance by providing good traction on certain surfaces, they also increase injury risk.
> Anatomic. More data is needed to determine if ACL size is related to injury risk.
Researchers agree training programs that teach proper landing methods or basic injury prevention techniques should be adopted to help female athletes.
Sportsmetrics Training Program
Sportsmetrics training was created by a team of athletic trainers, physical therapists and researchers, under the direction of Dr. Frank Noyes. It includes extensively researched components that make Sportsmetrics™ the first training program scientifically proven to decrease serious knee ligament injuries in female athletes. Sportsmetrics™ incorporates training program for injury prevention AND performance enhancement. The program focuses on jumping and landing technique and strength exercises that have been proven to decrease the incidence of injuries and improve sport performance.
Sportsmetrics WIPP Training Components
WIPP (Warm-up for Injury Prevention and Performance) is a condensed form of Sportsmetrics training which consists of dynamic warm-up, jumping training, strength training and flexibility training. This program includes concentration on hip and core strength. The entire program takes approximately 25-30 minutes and is ideal for in-season training.
For more information, visit http://www.sportsmetrics.net/.
