How Many ACL Injuries Occur Each Year?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury affects as many

as 250,000 individuals

in the United States annually, resulting in an annual health care cost exceeding $2 billion.

How many athletes tear their ACL each year?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a very important stabilizer of the knee. There are

approximately 100,000 to 200,000 ACL ruptures per year

in the United States alone. These injuries are common in professional and recreational athletes across multiple different sports.

How many ACL injuries happen in 2019?

In 2019, ACL tears declined from

57 to 47

, while MCL tears dropped from 132 to 109. Lower-body soft-tissue injuries — including hamstrings — remained steady at between 580 and 610 such injuries. The NFL has made soft-tissue injuries a point of focus because of the frequency.

How Many ACL injuries occur each year in the NBA?

Unfortunately, ACL injuries are very common, with

between 100,000 to 200,000 occurring

each year.

How Many ACL injuries occur each year worldwide?

The only study on the prevalence of ACL injuries in the general population has estimated the incidence as 1 case in 3,500 people, resulting in

95,000 new ACL ruptures per year

. The importance of the ACL has been emphasized in athletes who require stability in running, cutting, and kicking.

Who is at risk for ACL injury?

Age. ACL tears are most common

between the ages of 15 and 45

, mostly due to the more active lifestyle and higher participation in sports.

What sport has the highest percentage of ACL tears?

At the high school level,

girls soccer

has the most ACL injuries, followed by boys football, girls basketball, girls gymnastics, and boys and girls lacrosse. Among high school and college athletes, females have two to six times higher ACL injury rates than males in similar sports.

Why are ACL tears so common now?

The ACL tears more often than any other ligament—there may be as many as 200,000 ACL injuries per year in the United States—because of

the lack of muscle support for twisting or rotational movements around the joint

.

Why are there more ACL injuries now?

Unfortunately, ACL tears often

lead to lengthy rehabilitation and recovery times

, potentially increasing the risk of arthritis. One theory explaining a potential cause of this issue, is the increase in sports participation with the tendency to professionalize the sport and training from an early age.

Is James Harden injury?

Harden

suffered a right hamstring injury

on a drive to the basket 43 seconds into Game 1. The Nets called a timeout, Harden left the game and did not return. Harden underwent an MRI, which reportedly revealed no structural damage. “I’m heartbroken for him,” Nash said of Harden after the game.

Why are ACL tears more common in females?

Technique differences also play a role.

When coming down from a jump, female athletes tend to land in a collapsing pattern, moving their knees inward and often not bending them enough

. The combination of these factors makes an ACL tear more likely.

Are ACL tears more common in males or females?

According to research, an ACL tear is one acute injury that female athletes are

two to eight times more likely to experience than males

. The ACL, a ligament in the knee that connects the femur to the tibia, is extraordinarily strong, yet has little elasticity, Dr.

How likely are you to tear your ACL twice?

Overall,

29.5% of athletes suffered

a second ACL injury within 24 months of returning to activity with 20.5% sustaining an opposite leg injury and 9.0% incurring graft re-tear injury on the same leg.

Can you tear ACL without knowing?

Please note: In some instances, you

may not experience any swelling or severe pain

when you tear your ACL. We’ve had patients come in with discomfort, not realizing it was an actual tear because they didn’t experience any of these common symptoms.

Where is ACL pain located?

You will likely feel pain in

the center of your knee

during an ACL tear. Because the MCL is located on the side of your knee, the pain and swelling will be located on the inside of the knee structure rather than the middle.

How painful is a torn ACL?

When the ACL is torn and the signature loud “pop” is heard, intense pain follows and, within an hour, swelling occurs. Moderate-to-severe pain is very common. Initially, the pain is sharp and then becomes more of

an ache or throbbing sensation

as the knee swells.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.