Safeguarding young athletes from ACL injuries in schools

Efforts to curtail ACL injuries in young individuals, particularly girls, demand increased attention. Despite global initiatives, no successful injury prevention programme has been integrated into standard school physical education (PE) curriculum. Tom Hughes, with Professor Nick London and YKC's support, aims to rectify this situation.

The Yorkshire Knee Clinic's involvement in ongoing knee injury prevention studies is pivotal. Worldwide research indicates that knee injury prevention programmes can slash the risk of ACL ruptures and other knee injuries by up to 50%, presenting profound benefits.

While these programmes benefit everyone, they exhibit a notably higher impact in girls' and women's sports, an arena marked by recent headlines leading up to and following the World Cup.

Addressing major knee injuries in school children is imperative. Historically, girls' sports have shown higher injury rates per participant compared to boys', with reasons spanning biology to mechanics. The surge in female participation in elite sports highlights the urgency of injury prevention, prompting Tom Hughes' research, nearing completion, aiming to significantly reduce major knee injuries in school children.

Tom's research highlights the potential of introducing comprehensive injury prevention programmes across all sports played by school-aged children, not just at elite levels.

Tom's research comprises two components. First is the preventive aspect, advocating for a multi-sport programme that focuses on diverse movements, building various muscles and ligaments. This counters the current trend of specialisation, where single-sport focus leads to imbalances and heightened injury rates.

The second aspect addresses existing barriers to implementing injury prevention programmes in schools and clubs. Tom's research recommends shorter programmes, easily incorporated into standard PE lessons. Emphasising the involvement of PE teachers ensures ownership and active participation in the programme, overcoming resistance.

Tom Hughes' research provides a practical approach to mitigating ACL injuries in young individuals, advocating for comprehensive, multi-sport programmes and addressing implementation barriers for widespread success.

Professor Nick London is a highly respected specialist knee surgeon with over 30 years of experience. You can schedule an appointment with Professor London on his Top Doctors profile.