| Data was compiled between 1994 and 1998. In addition a survey
of NFL Team Physicians was conducted on ACL injury management. |
| —Grass and artificial turf had equal rates of ACL injuries. |
|
—ACL injuries accounted for 2% of all injuries in the NFL.
|
| —Over 66% of injuries occurred in games. |
| —79% of these injuries were isolated ACL tears. 21% involved
damage to some other knee structure. |
| —By position, RB's had the highest risk of ACL injury. |
| —Special teams play is probably the most dangerous, accounting
for 20% of the ACL injuries and accounting for very little actual
game time. |
| —The greatest number of ACL injuries occurred in July and
August, when athletes are in the poorest condition and practices
are the most intense. |
| —Over 90% of team physicians recommeded acute ACL repair,
meaning the athlete did not return to play before surgery. |
| —Over 90% of team physicans would wait at least 3 weeks before
performing surgery. This allows for "prehab" or improvements
in strength, range of motion and inflammation through rehab. |
| —If the ACL injury also included an MCL injury, 45% of the
physicans would wait 4-6 weeks to allow for the MCL to heal before
ACL surgery. |
| —Over 94% of the physicans would use a patellar tendon autograft
as their graft of choice for ACL reconstruction. |
| —Post surgery 55% of physicans allowed full weight bearing
immediately, while 42% limited their patients to crutches and partial
weight bearing. |
| —87% of the surgeons allow range of motion as tolerated,
while 42% use a passive Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine
post-surgery. |
| —81% of the team physicans feel the ideal return to play
time is 6-9 months post surgery. |
| —Nearly 100% of NFL athletes were able to return to competition
after surgery (assuming the talent was there before the injury). |