As I prepare to present at an ACL Symposium with some of my colleagues this weekend, I thought I would share some of the information I am presenting on injury prevention.<\/p>\n
Research consistently shows that neuromuscular training is beneficial in reducing ACL injuries. \u00a0This type of training hinges on training our athletes to land, plant and cut on a bent knee while shifting the COM (center of mass) forward. \u00a0Too many times, I see female athletes land with stiff knees in an upright posture relying too heavily on their quads.<\/p>\n
Emphasizing hip and knee flexion is vital in order to activate the posterior chain and provided a restraint to anterior tibial translation. \u00a0When it comes to landing and plyometrics, I feel strongly that we need to focus on repetitive drills that enhance power and teach ideal form.<\/p>\n
These exercises should include single and double leg varieties, but more importantly they should challenge the body in the sagittal, coronal and transverse plane. \u00a0I have included a short video today that illustrates just a few exercises that I incorporate in my training sessions.<\/p>\n