Early Detection of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk - FSI Talks #4

In this episode of FSI Talks, we explore one of the biggest ongoing challenges in football: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. With the participation of leading experts, we analyze the effectiveness of current prevention strategies, key risk factors, and innovative tools such as C-MAS and MAT to identify individuals at risk. Additionally, we discuss the importance of neuromuscular control, early intervention in youth sports, and the potential future applications of virtual reality in injury prevention.

Alberto Fílter · @alberto.filter

June 20, 2024 |

6 minutes

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This FSI Talk featured the participation of three prominent professionals in the field:

Filippo Piccinini, Head of Advanced Rehabilitation and Sports Sciences at Isokinetic Medical Group, London.

Tom Dos Santos, Associate Professor in Strength and Conditioning, and Sports Biomechanics at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

Alberto Fílter, moderator and coordinator of FSI Lab.

The experts provided complementary perspectives on the incidence of ACL injuries and evidence-based strategies to mitigate them.

Persistent Challenges in ACL Injury Prevention

Despite advances in sports science, the incidence of ACL injuries remains constant. According to the experts, completely eradicating these injuries is unrealistic, as certain inherently risky activities, such as direction changes and intense decelerations, are essential in football. However, identifying modifiable risk factors, such as biomechanics and strength, allows for significant risk mitigation.

The most relevant factors include:

Biomechanical Factors: Knee and hip positions during high-intensity movements.
Neuromuscular Factors: Muscle activation strategies and motor control.
Cognition and Decision-Making: Game interpretation and effort regulation to avoid high-risk situations.

Assessment Tools and Advanced Technologies

A crucial part of the discussion was the introduction of tools like C-MAS (Cutting Movement Assessment Score) and MAT (Movement Analysis Testing). These tools assess movement quality and allow for the identification of risky biomechanical patterns.

C-MAS: Evaluates movements such as direction changes and landings to detect high-risk postures, such as dynamic knee valgus or improper trunk rotation.
MAT: Provides a score based on six basic movements: single-leg squat, drop jump, deceleration, lateral stop, direction change, and single-leg support.

Furthermore, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are enabling more accurate assessments applicable to real-world environments. VR, for instance, could recreate specific tactical situations to train players in game interpretation and improve their decision-making on the field.

Prevention and Contextualized Training

A key finding is that many ACL injuries occur in defensive situations, particularly during aggressive pressing actions. The experts recommended integrating tactical elements into prevention programs, such as teaching players when to stop or decelerate instead of rushing toward the ball in a risky manner.

Some proposed approaches include:

Deceleration training: Improve braking strategies to better distribute mechanical loads.
Simulation of defensive situations: Use video analysis and VR to teach players to better interpret plays.
Technical modification: Teach players to adopt safer postures and movement patterns.

The Future of ACL Injury Prevention

The panel concluded that the future of prevention lies in a combination of advanced technology, education, and personalization. Tools such as wearable sensors, high-precision cameras, and AI-based analysis are expected to provide detailed data on mechanical loads and biomechanics in real-time.

At the same time, the key lies in understanding the game. Beyond physical factors, players must develop tactical and cognitive skills that allow them to regulate their efforts and avoid high-risk situations. If you want to learn more about this topic, we recommend our Master’s in Football Injury Rehabilitation.

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Stay informed about everything happening in the FSI Training ecosystem by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on social media.

Post Author

Alberto Fílter

Coordinator of FSI Lab and Host on FSI Talks.

Alberto Fílter holds a PhD in Football from Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, as well as a Master’s in High Physical and Sports Performance from the same institution.

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Early Detection of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk - FSI Talks #4

June 6, 2024 |

6 minutes

This FSI Talk featured the participation of three prominent professionals in the field:

Filippo Piccinini, Head of Advanced Rehabilitation and Sports Sciences at Isokinetic Medical Group, London.

Tom Dos Santos, Associate Professor in Strength and Conditioning, and Sports Biomechanics at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

Alberto Fílter, moderator and coordinator of FSI Lab.

The experts provided complementary perspectives on the incidence of ACL injuries and evidence-based strategies to mitigate them.

Persistent Challenges in ACL Injury Prevention

Despite advances in sports science, the incidence of ACL injuries remains constant. According to the experts, completely eradicating these injuries is unrealistic, as certain inherently risky activities, such as direction changes and intense decelerations, are essential in football. However, identifying modifiable risk factors, such as biomechanics and strength, allows for significant risk mitigation.

The most relevant factors include:

Biomechanical Factors: Knee and hip positions during high-intensity movements.
Neuromuscular Factors: Muscle activation strategies and motor control.
Cognition and Decision-Making: Game interpretation and effort regulation to avoid high-risk situations.

Assessment Tools and Advanced Technologies

A crucial part of the discussion was the introduction of tools like C-MAS (Cutting Movement Assessment Score) and MAT (Movement Analysis Testing). These tools assess movement quality and allow for the identification of risky biomechanical patterns.

Additionally, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) are enabling more precise assessments applicable to real-world environments. VR, for example, could recreate specific tactical situations to train players in game interpretation and improve their decision-making on the field.

Prevention and Contextualized Training

Some proposed approaches include:

Deceleration training: Improve braking strategies to better distribute mechanical loads.
Simulation of defensive situations: Use video analysis and VR to teach players to better interpret plays.
Technical modification: Teach players to adopt safer postures and movement patterns.

The Future of ACL Injury Prevention

The panel concluded that the future of prevention lies in a combination of advanced technology, education, and personalization. Tools such as wearable sensors, high-precision cameras, and AI-based analysis promise to provide detailed data on mechanical loads and biomechanics in real-time.

At the same time, the key lies in understanding the game. Beyond physical factors, players must develop tactical and cognitive skills that allow them to regulate their efforts and avoid high-risk situations. If you want to learn more about this topic, we recommend our Master’s in Football Injury Rehabilitation.

Want to Stay Updated on the Latest News?

Stay informed about everything happening in the FSI Training ecosystem by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on social media.

Post Author

Alberto Fílter

Coordinator of FSI Lab and Host on FSI Talks.

Alberto Fílter holds a PhD in Football from Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, as well as a Master’s in High Physical and Sports Performance from the same institution.