How your warm up can save your knees

Written by: Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, CKTP, CGFI

To continue with a previous post, how you warm up can really help protect your knees from injury.  An article in the New York Times outlines how a specific warm up program can protect athletes, especially female athletes, from ACL injuries.

Published back in March, the Times article references a study done by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons investigating specific exercises and drills to protect knees from ligamental damage.  They also outlined the medical costs of suffering from an ACL injury, which surgery to repair it costing up to $15,000.

We’ve covered this program before, and also offered seminars to the community about this PEP program.  It stands for Prevent Injury, Enhance Performance.  The program incorporates strength with neuromuscular re-education, and can be done prior to a practice or game right on the field.

It consists proper position from landing from a jump, warm up exercises, strengthening exercises, plyometrics, agility drills, and stretching.  Studies show that this type of warm up can greatly reduce the risk of an athlete getting an ACL injury.

If you would like more information, please call Professional Physical Therapy and Training at 973-270-7417.  Our offices are located within the YMCA locations in Madison and Summit, NJ.  You do not need to be a member of the YMCA to visit with us.