Font ResizeCONCORD -- Emerson Hospital's Center for Sports Rehabilitation and Specialty Services is offering an APP (Awareness Prevention Proprioception) for ACL Injuries program for athletes 13 and older from July 10 through Aug. 16 at Jack Walsh Field, 100 Carlisle Road in Westford.
Each year, more than 200,000 high school athletes suffer an injury to their ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, one of the main knee ligaments that joins the upper leg bone with the lower leg bone. Female athletes have up to an eight times increased risk of tearing their ACL, compared to their male counterparts. Fortunately, research has shown that athletes who participate in a neuromuscular training program demonstrate a 50 percent to 70 percent cut in ACL tears.
While an ACL injury often occurs during sports, Emerson Hospital orthopedic surgeon John Blute, MD, said strengthening the quadriceps and hamstrings and training how to move when jumping, landing, and pivoting can not only improve athletic performance, but also significantly decrease the risk of an ACL injury. In fact, European and Major League Soccer teams routinely participate in neuromuscular training.
Classes will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5 to 6 p.m. for girls and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for boys. The cost is $199, with payment due July 1. For a registration form, email jgravel@emersonhosp.org or call the Center for Sports Rehabilitation and Specialty Services in
