Running Head: CAPSTONE PROJECT
Introduction to Capstone Project
Kate McBrearty
Ridgewood High School
Prevention of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
I. History/General Overview
In May 2008, I completely ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament in right knee while playing soccer, and had to get surgery to recover from it. In August 2009, less than a year and half later, I tore my left ACL and had to undergo a second surgery. As a result of these two injuries, I was unable to play sports for about thirteen months, each injury causing me to sit out for six months. Not only was I unable to play the sport that I love, but I was not even able to do any physical activity. In order to recover from my ACL reconstruction surgery, I had to use crutches for six weeks, wear a brace for eight weeks, and had to do physical therapy exercises every day for about six months. Having experienced this tragic injury not once but twice, I am well aware of the impact it has on an athlete. Not only does this injury have a physical impact on an athlete, but it also has a mental impact because the athlete becomes less confident in his or her ability to perform at the same level of competition as they previously had before the injury.
The anterior cruciate ligament, also known as the ACL, is one of the four major ligaments in the knee and is crucial to knee function and stability. Located in the center of the knee, its main job is to prevent the tibia from a displacement too far beyond the femur, which would cause the knee to give out (Oakes, 2004, p. 1). ACL tears are one of the most common injuries seen in athletes. There are approximately 200,000 ACL injuries each year in the United States, and about 100,000 ACL reconstruction surgeries are performed annually (Gammons, 2010, p. 1). Although surgery is not necessary, one would not be able to partake in rigorous, high impact activity such as cutting, jumping, and pivoting again without...