Today, 27 years after a federal mandate was enacted to provide gender equality in sports, a new generation of female athletes has emerged. These athletes have higher rates of knee injuries than male athletes.
SportsmetricsTM is a state of the art program scientifically proven to decrease knee injuries in female athletes. The training program is scientifically proven to increase jump height and reduce the risk of serious knee injury, The neuromuscular training not only increases muscular power but also decreases impact forces at the knee.
Building Blocks to Strength!
The six-week jump training program incorporates proper stretching, special plyometric exercises, and weight training. It focuses on developing overall leg strength, as well as, improving balance in strength from the front to the back of the thigh. Through specialized progression of jump/plyometric drills, athletes learn proper techniques for jumping and landing, increase overall leg strength, improve symmetry in right-to-left leg power, and improve vertical jump.
Training proceeds from technique development to performance enhancement with each session building on the previous bout of training. The strength and flexibility components have also been carefully reviewed for safety and effectiveness.
Trainer Feedback:
Essential to the success of the athlete is the trainer interaction and feedback throughout the program. Student to trainer ratios are kept at 6 to 1 or better to ensure that each athlete receives individualized recommendations and attention.
SportsmetricsTM develops strong athletes with good technique to prevent injury and enhance performance. Call Mary Washington Healthcare’s Human Motion Institute SportsmetricsTM certified specialist, Michelle Shegogue, PT, MSPT, OCS, CSCS, at 717.741.3199 to learn more about the program.
An ACL Tear Nightmare!
How exciting to make varsity soccer as a freshman. So many opportunities ahead; especially with college scholarships!
Suddenly, my future soccer dreams fade. Twelve years of playing year round soccer and in the blink of an eye I am sidelined due to a serious injury: a tear to my Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).
The ACL is the strongest ligament in the knee and prevents the leg from hyper-extending or “giving out.” Constant directional change in any contact sport can make the simplest turn become your last.
Rehabilitation took well over a year. As my high school career slowly began anew, the original ACL tear led to a partially torn meniscus tear and ultimately: a full blown meniscus tear. Three surgeries in three years resulted in most of high school spent in rehab centers and bench sitting. But I did not sit alone. Oddly, four other girls on my team experienced the same ACL tear during high school.
The consequence of this injury includes the loss of my college soccer career. Much rehabilitation and three years of strengthening later, I have found freedom and joy in long distance running, but those lost years can never be replaced. I am thrilled to hear about ACL strengthening awareness for young girls. Early strengthening is the key to avoiding such injuries in high school and college players.
I only wish this information was available when I was a beginning soccer player instead of being ‘forced’ to do these exercises through rehab. Over time, ACL awareness should greatly lower the number of torn
ligaments and increase the number of collegiate athletes enjoying their sports careers.
Samantha Block is a free lance writer and a food preparation blogger, living in New Jersey and attending The Restaurant School in Philadelphia.
