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New Study Shows ACL Tears Rising Among Children

Posted On: 02-24-2017
New Study Shows ACL Tears Rising Among Children
A new study published in Pediatrics has found that an increased number of children are damaging their knees while playing sports.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears have specifically increased in children ages six to 18 years in the United States. This is an increase of more than two percent a year over the previous two decades. To complete the study, researchers looked at insurance billing data for patients ages six to 18 years old from 1994 to 2013.

The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Nicholas Beck, indicated that these injuries peak in the high school years. He also indicated that girls have a higher rate of ACL injuries.

While the researchers did not look at the reason why ACL tears are increasing, it is possible that the injuries are due to year-round sports participation in children beginning at younger ages. Rather than participate in a variety of sports all year, kids are specializing in one particular sport and subjecting themselves to overuse injuries. In addition, females are playing sports at higher rates than ever before. Activities that involve pivoting or cutting, such as basketball and soccer, are the riskiest for ACL injuries.

The researchers hope that this study will increase awareness of these injuries and stimulate interest in prevention. ACL injuries can be serious if left untreated, and require a lot of recovery work.

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