BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of individuals participating in sports every year, injury - specifically anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury - remains an inherent risk factor for participants. The majority of ACL injuries occur from a non-contact mechanism, and there is a high physical and financial burden associated with injury. Understanding the risk factors for ACL injury may aid in the development of prevention efforts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to synthesize and appraise existing literature for risk factors associated with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in both sexes. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted utilizing the MEDLINE database and The Cochrane library for articles available through February 2016. All titles and abstracts were reviewed and full text articles meeting eligibility criteria were assessed in detail to determine inclusion or exclusion. Articles reviewed in full text were reviewed for scientific evidence of risk factors for ACL injury. Results from studies were extracted and initially classified as either intrinsic or extrinsic risk factors, and then further categorized based upon the evidence presented in the studies meeting inclusion criteria. Data extracted from eligible studies included general study characteristics (study design, sample characteristics), methodology, and results for risk factors included. RESULTS: Principal findings of this systematic review identified the following risk factors for ACL injury in both sexes: degrading weather conditions, decreased intercondylar notch index or width, increased lateral or posterior tibial plateau slope, decreased core and hip strength, and potential genetic influence. CONCLUSIONS: Neuromuscular and biomechanical risk factors may be addressed through neuromuscular preventative training programs. Though some extrinsic and other inherent physiological factors tend to be non-modifiable, attempts to improve upon those modifiable factors may lead to a decreased incidence of ACL injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2a.
BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of individuals participating in sports every year, injury - specifically anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury - remains an inherent risk factor for participants. The majority of ACL injuries occur from a non-contact mechanism, and there is a high physical and financial burden associated with injury. Understanding the risk factors for ACL injury may aid in the development of prevention efforts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this review was to synthesize and appraise existing literature for risk factors associated with non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in both sexes. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: An electronic literature search was conducted utilizing the MEDLINE database and The Cochrane library for articles available through February 2016. All titles and abstracts were reviewed and full text articles meeting eligibility criteria were assessed in detail to determine inclusion or exclusion. Articles reviewed in full text were reviewed for scientific evidence of risk factors for ACL injury. Results from studies were extracted and initially classified as either intrinsic or extrinsic risk factors, and then further categorized based upon the evidence presented in the studies meeting inclusion criteria. Data extracted from eligible studies included general study characteristics (study design, sample characteristics), methodology, and results for risk factors included. RESULTS: Principal findings of this systematic review identified the following risk factors for ACL injury in both sexes: degrading weather conditions, decreased intercondylar notch index or width, increased lateral or posterior tibial plateau slope, decreased core and hip strength, and potential genetic influence. CONCLUSIONS: Neuromuscular and biomechanical risk factors may be addressed through neuromuscular preventative training programs. Though some extrinsic and other inherent physiological factors tend to be non-modifiable, attempts to improve upon those modifiable factors may lead to a decreased incidence of ACL injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2a.
Authors: Jason L Dragoo; Hillary J Braun; Jennah L Durham; Michael R Chen; Alex H S Harris Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2012-04-05 Impact factor: 6.202
Authors: Gerhard Ruedl; Magdalena Webhofer; Kenneth Helle; Martin Strobl; Alois Schranz; Christian Fink; Hannes Gatterer; Martin Burtscher Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2012-03-16 Impact factor: 6.202
Authors: Michael Posthumus; Alison V September; Dion O'Cuinneagain; Willem van der Merwe; Martin P Schwellnus; Malcolm Collins Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2009-05-13 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: Kevin O'Connell; Hayley Knight; Krzysztof Ficek; Agata Leonska-Duniec; Agnieszka Maciejewska-Karlowska; Marek Sawczuk; Marta Stepien-Slodkowska; Dion O'Cuinneagain; Willem van der Merwe; Michael Posthumus; Pawel Cieszczyk; Malcolm Collins Journal: Eur J Sport Sci Date: 2014-07-29 Impact factor: 4.050
Authors: Ajit M W Chaudhari; Eric A Zelman; David C Flanigan; Christopher C Kaeding; Haikady N Nagaraja Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2009-03-23 Impact factor: 6.202
Authors: M Posthumus; A V September; M Keegan; D O'Cuinneagain; W Van der Merwe; M P Schwellnus; M Collins Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2009-02-04 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: Robert Csapo; Dieter Heinrich; Andrew D Vigotsky; Christian Marx; Shantanu Sinha; Christian Fink Journal: Diagnostics (Basel) Date: 2021-11-16
Authors: Mélanie L Beaulieu; Madeleine G DeClercq; Nathan T Rietberg; Sylvia H Li; Emily C Harker; Alexander E Weber; James A Ashton-Miller; Edward M Wojtys Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2021-07 Impact factor: 7.010
Authors: David Sundemo; Eric Hamrin Senorski; Louise Karlsson; Alexandra Horvath; Birgit Juul-Kristensen; Jon Karlsson; Olufemi R Ayeni; Kristian Samuelsson Journal: BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med Date: 2019-11-10