knee injuries (reconstructions)

[bayman]

i'll need spelly to get the records but as an observer i think there is a lot more knee recos in afl than sanfl now some will say the speed etc but i wonder whether its more to do with afl players playing on grounds without any give in the ground including sticky or muddy centres with cricket pitches, where as at sanfl level most grounds have cricket pitches (norwood has a creek running beneath it) the other is too much weights compared to leg work


what do you guys think ?

[smac]

The weight distribution of the player is a significant factor, IMHO. Most of these injuries occur when changing direction and a player with a lighter frame will be able to adjust their weight faster and not get injured as easily. Incredibly unlucky injury, doing something that they have done a million times before. I think I am agreeing with your point regarding weights!

A terrible injury, personally I never played again after mine (admittedly I followed it up with an ankle reconstruction, but I never felt as confident in my knee again).

[mighty_tiger_79]

i'll need spelly to get the records but as an observer i think there is a lot more knee recos in afl than sanfl now some will say the speed etc but i wonder whether its more to do with afl players playing on grounds without any give in the ground including sticky or muddy centres with cricket pitches, where as at sanfl level most grounds have cricket pitches (norwood has a creek running beneath it) the other is too much weights compared to leg work


what do you guys think ?

MAL would have to bring up TELSTRA DOOM or the PHONE BOX

[Dutchy]

I did my left knee on a cricket pitch that held my sprigs in the ground as my body went the other way ripping the ACL off the bone, Im positive if I was out on the wing there would have been more give in the ground and the spriggs would have come loose and hence no reco....so its not only soft grounds but parts of the ground that are too hard

[scoob]

I did my knee trent hentschell style, on a quick deck - 10m clear of anybody changing direction slightly. alot of it is just luck or lack of it! if any of you can come up with the reason give rodney eade a call - he might have a job for you.

[mal]

More teams more injuries.
16 AFL teams.
9 SANFL teams.
Im sure proffessor SD will have the right answers.

[sydney-dog]

Guy's

injuries in sport and trying to determine trends with injuries is a difficult process and in regards to knee injuries plenty of theories have been tested, including some people believe that athletes are so highly tuned these days your body becomes like a rubber band, it keeps getting pushed and pushed and stretched and stretched and eventually something gives, some times this may be a minor soft tissue injury other times a knee injury

Other studies have been done on the speed of the game, ground conditions, foot wear, tapping players ankles and the impact it has on knees but their is no conclusive data that strongly supports any particular theory

The reason, there is just too many variables that you need to take in to account including individual genetics, I have a close friend who has had both knee's reconstructed twice and he is a tennis player

As already stated their are those knee injuries such as Trent's and Biglands which resulted from collisions, or Rehn's where the surface was a major contributing factor, others where the injury occurred during a normal motion, these are the injuries that need focus but it will always going to be difficult to determine trends in injuries

At best I think the industry will be able to identify risk factors and make recommendations in reducing these risks but this will not guarantee we will see a reduction in the number of injuries

You would hope with better playing surfaces, improved training facilities, improved footwear and better training methods eventually we will see a significant reduction to knee injuries

[Footy Chick]

The weight distribution of the player is a significant factor, IMHO. Most of these injuries occur when changing direction and a player with a lighter frame will be able to adjust their weight faster and not get injured as easily. Incredibly unlucky injury, doing something that they have done a million times before. I think I am agreeing with your point regarding weights!

A terrible injury, personally I never played again after mine (admittedly I followed it up with an ankle reconstruction, but I never felt as confident in my knee again).

Studies have shown that it is infact ground that use couch grass that incur the most ACL injuries.

Weight distribution is a factor SMAC but only a small one and players with lighter frame are just as likely to suffer an ACL injury and this is proven as women are actually more likely to incur the injury than men but this is mainly due to hormones affecting their ligament strength.

Our wingman Cameron Smith had a reco on his right knee in late 2005, came back to play 6 games this year and did the left knee 15 mins into the GF and he is one of the lightest/shortest players in our team.

The strength of the ligaments, tendons and muscles surrounding the knee probably play a more significant part than grass or boots IMO, which is why I wont let my boys run on the road as it accelarates wear and tear on the knee...