Accelerated Tackles Soaring Injury Rates

CHICAGO, Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fall sports have begun and, for many young athletes, painful anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries will follow.  According to a recent study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, ACL injuries in athletes who are under 18 years of age have increased over the past two decades, especially among those who play football, soccer and basketball. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimates that 200,000 athletes will sustain an ACL injury this year alone. Furthermore, research shows that nearly 30 percent of those who have had an ACL repaired will re-injure it in the 24 months following surgery.

"In our clinics and in the schools where we have athletic trainers on staff, we are seeing more ACL injuries in young athletes than ever before," explains Terrance Sgroi, Accelerated Physical Therapy's Director of Clinical Sports Medicine.  "We see kids specializing in one sport too early, playing one sport year-round, not taking breaks from sports and playing more competitively."

To address the growing concern of ACL injuries, Accelerated Physical Therapy has launched its 3P: Prevention, Progression and Performance ACL program. The 3P program specializes in both preventing ACL injuries and returning athletes safely to their sport if they do sustain one. A highly-trained team of ACL specialists is available now at Accelerated centers throughout Chicagoland, including Northwest Indiana.

The 3P program offers these three services to patients:

Prevention

Accelerated ACL specialists believe in stopping an ACL tear before it starts.  They are now offering free ACL injury screens* at locations throughout Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.  The screens, which identify balance, instability and muscle weakness, can determine if an athlete is biomechanically prone (low, medium or high risk) to an ACL injury.

If a screen reveals a medium to high risk of ACL injury, Accelerated's specially trained therapists will design an injury prevention program tailored to each patient's need. Applying proven research, Accelerated's program helps the patient strengthen muscles surrounding the knee, core, hip and lower leg. This, in turn, supports the knee's ligaments, including the ACL, and helps to prevent injury.

Following the identification of a patient's biomechanical flaws, some of these prevention techniques used include:

• Strengthening muscles which surround the knee, hip and lower leg
• Strengthening the core, gluteus medius and hamstring muscles
• Agility drills
• Jumping and cutting-specific exercises

Progression (Rehabilitation)

Athletes who are recovering from ACL surgery should always work with a physical therapist trained in ACL rehabilitation. Specialized care can minimize the risk of re-injury and other knee conditions that develop later in life, such as osteoarthritis. After many years of working with athletes recovering from ACL injuries, Accelerated's physical therapists have developed an expertise and reputation for helping athletes return to their sport.

Performance (Return to Play)

According to a recent study by Dr. Mark Paterno of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the ACL re-injury rate is nearly 30 percent during the first 24 months following surgery. Therefore, when an athlete finishes post-surgical rehabilitation, it is important to determine his/her level of risk before they return to sport. Accelerated's return to play program is designed to gauge this risk and is customized to each patient's particular sport.  In a two-part, comprehensive assessment, each athlete is tested before and after cardio exercise to determine his/her performance level when fatigued and more vulnerable to re-injury. 

To schedule an appointment with an ACL specialist, learn more about the 3P program or for a free ACL injury screen*, call 877-97-REHAB.

About Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers, Ltd.

Chicago-based Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers, Ltd. is a premier provider of a wide array of comprehensive patient services and specialized rehabilitation programs. Since 1989, Accelerated has grown to more than 300 outpatient rehabilitation centers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Arizona, becoming one of the top choices for many professional athletes, large employers and busy professionals.

*not for federally funded payers

Contact:  Ann Pitcher

PS Medical Marketing
               630-234-4150  

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SOURCE Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers