According to the National Institute of Health, young
women athletes are two to eight times more likely to suffer an injury to the
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) than male athletes. One reason is the increased
level of participation in sports which by itself is great news. But this
increased injury risk is a serious downside, and one wonders whether there are
ways to prepare young girls to minimize the risk.
There is one form of physical activity where ACL injuries
in women are almost unheard of, and that is a sport where leaps and bounds are
a substantial part of the program: BALLET!
So what is it about ballet that creates this shield of protection?
It is believed that ACL injuries in girls are often the
consequence of improper landing mechanics. Unless properly instructed, girls
tend to land flat-footed which is one of the risk factors for an ACL tear.
Because jumping is such a big part of ballet, proper mechanics here are a major
part of the training so that they become second nature. Even if a girl decides
that her athletic future is on the soccer field rather than in the ballet
studio, the lessons learned during ballet practice will have a positive
carry-over effect into other athletic endeavors.
An ACL injury at a young age predisposes the person to an
earlier onset of arthritis which can have a major impact on the quality of life
as we are getting older. And while young athletes cannot possibly imagine
anything but being indestructible, those of us who know better can give them a
better chance at a successful and healthy career by giving them the necessary
athletic skills.
Ballet training can be one such option, and it also
teaches them to stand up straight!
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