A Pediatrics report covered in Health Day investigates the rapid rise of ACL tears among kids and points out why girls may suffer the injury at higher rates than boys.
Here are six things to know:
1. ACL tear rates have increased more than two percent per year among six to 18 year olds in the U.S. over the last two decades.
2. Soccer and basketball pose high ACL tear risks due to the amount of cutting and pivoting involved, while football's physicality and high-contact nature can lead to tears, as well.
3. Instead of training and participating in multiples sports year-round, kids tend to specialize in one sport full-time more often than ever before. Researchers explained that these repeated motions and activities can lead to fatigue and increase the potential for injury.
4. Girls of all ages suffer higher rates of ACL injuries than boys. The researchers project that this may be because of the rising number of girls playing sports.
5. Boys exhibit the highest rate of ACL injuries between the ages of 15 and 16.
6. The researchers recommend practicing good running techniques and improving flexibility to avoid ACL injuries and warn that long-term effects of ACL tears include a higher risk of arthritis.
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