As fall is now upon us, so too is the season of football. For a few unlucky players, however, the season is already over, with preseason injuries benching them for the rest of the season.

In the NFL, an average of 23 ACL injuries occur before the first game of the season is even played, and it doesn’t stop there: according to the ACL Recovery Club, a total of 51 players tore their ACL during the 2017 season. The good news is that current evidence strongly supports the use of knee and ACL injury prevention programs to decrease the risk of injury and ensure a successful (and long) season for any athlete.

The knee joint is a hinge joint held together statically by 4 main ligaments: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

Side-by-side comparison of a normal knee (left) and a knee with a torn ACL (right)

Although there are many muscles that stabilize the knee, the main dynamic stabilizers of the knee consist of the quadriceps, hamstrings, calf, and gluteal muscles.

The knee is meant to move in one plane of motion creating both flexion (knee bent) and extension (knee straight). However, it does allow our bodies to move laterally, pivot, and change directions quickly when healthy. On the other hand, if the knee demonstrates decreased strength, muscle imbalance, range of motion, or flexibility in the surrounding tissues, it can be predisposed to injury.

To help prevent injury

The literature highlights a combination of dynamic stretching, running drills, strength training, plyometric drills, and core exercises. These activities should play a key role in knee injury prevention programs. Specifically, these should be completed for at least 20 minutes several times a week, starting in the preseason and carrying through the regular season. Furthermore, examples of each are outlined below.

Dynamic Stretching 

High knees, butt kicks, font/side leg swings, Frankenstein walk

Running Drills 

Forward running, backward running, zig zag cone drills, bounding

Strength Training

Double- and single-leg squats, banded hip strengthening, Nordic hamstring curls

Plyometric Drills 

Skater jumps, double leg and single leg hops, box jumps

Core Exercises

Front planks, side planks, bridges

Lastly, make sure to tailor your program to be sport-specific and elicit the help of your local physical therapist for ideas on your personalized knee injury prevention program!


Sources Cited:

“Exercise-Based Knee and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention” (J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018;48(9):A1–A42.

“JOSPT Perspective for Patients Knee Injury Prevention: Exercises to Kepp You From Getting Sidelined” published in Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2018 Volume:48 Issue:9 Pages:734–734 DOI:10.2519/jospt.2018.0509

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