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Get Shredded at the Gym or Shred Your ACL

In recent years, ACL injuries have had a higher incidence rate among high school athletes as sports have become increasingly competitive. These career-ending injuries have both physical and mental repercussions that can take a toll on the athlete's life. To tackle this issue this project proposes to hire a strength training coach to run lifting programs for teams at Templeton High School in hopes to reduce the rates of ACL injuries. This injury is very prevalent and has begun to become normalized within the athletic community, even though it is not normal and should not be viewed as so. Current evidence supports that teaching coaches and athletes about the importance of strength training and implementing it in the athletic program can be used to prevent ACL tears from occurring. This project proposes a quantitative approach by measuring the hamstring-quadriceps activation ratios during closed kinetic chain exercises, trunk endurance, coactivation muscle ratios, knee movements, peak knee valgus, and knee extensors and flexors strength. All of these measurements are significant to our research, as these play key roles in ACL injury. Assessing whether or not strength training adjusts the impact of these factors and reduces ACL tear risk, answers our question. From our research, we expect to see that strength training will decrease the rate of ACL tears, increasing the longevity of athletes’ careers and overall well-being. The training programs can be implemented in sports teams across all genders and ages, building a muscle strength foundation, and minimizing the chance of injury.

Mackenzie Burgoyne '24, Kelsey Wresien '24, Elyse Finerty '24, Maddyson-Taylor LePouttre '24
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