UConn's Walking Wounded

[oldude]

Some progress but not enough. A study done 8 years ago showed that 30% of first time ACLR patients ( male and female but majority female in the control group) had a recurrent tear within 2 years of returning to athletic activity. Another study showed a recurrence rate in women at 6.5 times the normal rate. Another study showed that a woman is 3.5 times more likely to tear her ACL a first time while playing basketball than a man. There are several theories for this gender imbalance, anatomical, hormonal, neuromuscular etc but no definitive reason. It's still a nightmare for athletes in stop and go, sudden deceleration, jump stop sports like basketball. There is an emphasis now on training but until medicine gives us the "why" we won't be able to effectively give our girls playing sports the "here's how not".

My daughter did it 3 times, twice in basketball and once in lacrosse. I saw first hand the pain and struggles involved in difficult and tedious rehab processes. Any player who comes back from that injury( it's usually a 2 year window to approach pre-injury status) has my attention and respect.

I will be rooting my you know what off for Azzi and Caroline this year. That kind of trial and tribulation creates character and fearlessness, and although I have only seen videos, highlights and clips, I think they both have it.

As for our other walking wounded, I expect they will all grow from their own experiences. Adversity does one of two things. You either give in to it and it overcomes you or you fight and overcome it. The latter is the usual UCONN way, I would politely venture to say.

I am familiar with the 2013 study. Many of the advancements in Sports Science on preventing ACL injuries have occurred just in the past 5 years or so.

There is most certainly still room for improvement. But back in the Dark Ages when I played ball, a torn ACL was a career ending injury.

 

[BBallF]

I am familiar with the 2013 study. Many of the advancements in Sports Science on preventing ACL injuries have occurred just in the past 5 years or so.

There is most certainly still room for improvement. But back in the Dark Ages when I played ball, a torn ACL was a career ending injury.

Bernard King come to mind? It sounds like you are my generation. I personally saw many very talented players have their college careers taken away from them due to that injury including my backcourt mate in high school who was D1 bound.

I hate the gender divide in it and I am convinced that someone, somewhere will figure it out and invent something that will greatly reduce the incidence. Preventative training only goes so far. I did it with my daughter so I know because I was always afraid of it for her. Players like Sue Bird are the exception, not the rule, but the whole fields of training, physical therapy and rehabilitation are greatly advanced as you note. This is a wide open topic for discussion but knowing about it first hand makes me even more committed as a UCONN WCBB fan (as if that is even possible!) when you have an Azzi or a Caroline.

It's probably why Evina was my favorite player last year. She hid it very well but that kid was playing through pain and fatigue a lot. Let's see if the 2 year rule works for her. I say it does. N'est pas?