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Preventing ACL Injuries

4,797 views · Published 31 August 2016 · 1:37 · Indexed 8 November 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2016 · Science & Technology

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It’s one of the most common injuries in contact sports. ACL tears can be serious injuries taking a player out of a game for the rest of the season. 

Dr. Thomas LaPorta, an orthopedic surgeon with Lee Memorial Health System, says ACL tears are common in young athletes. “The ACL is the most important ligament inside your knee. It helps with stability in preventing your knee from feeling lose. An ACL injury is a very traumatic injury and it does take a long time to recover.”

ACL injuries happen frequently in sports like football, tennis, basketball, and soccer.  “You have running backs who are trying to cut, you have defenders who are trying to tackle, and they just kind of stop their momentum in one direction and the top half of their body continues going and their knee stays behind,” said Dr. LaPorta. 

But there are ways to prevent ACL injuries. “A lot of it is working on those mechanics and training the body to not necessarily letting the knees cave inward when they’re jumping but rather have a more broad stance,” said Dr. LaPorta. 

Other techniques he suggests are muscle training around the knee, quads, and hamstrings. All can protect the body from an ALC tear. “The pain is pretty significant. The initial tear is a major ligament in the knee. It has a blood supply. It has nerve endings. It’s something that is painful,” said Dr. LaPorta. 

The most common treatment for an injured ACL is surgery. “We’ve seen plenty of players come back with great success,” said Dr. LaPorta.  But it’s a long road of recovery even after surgery and the risk for another ACL injury is high. Health experts say it’s important to practice safe plays on and off the field. 

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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