AI Article Synopsis
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are prevalent among NFL players, significantly impacting their performance and health, yet detailed statistics on these injuries have been limited.
- A study analyzing NFL injury data from 2015-2019 found a total of 314 ACL injuries, averaging 62 per year, with a 1.9% injury risk per season.
- Injuries were most frequent during games, especially in preseason, particularly among players with less than 3 years of experience and those in special teams positions.
Article Abstract
Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common in contact athletics and have a significant effect on the athletic performance and well-being of affected players. The prevalence, timing, and characteristics of ACL tears in National Football League (NFL) athletes are lacking.
Purpose: To define the epidemiology of ACL tears among NFL athletes.
Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.
Methods: This retrospective study includes all ACL injuries entered into the NFL injury database through the centralized leaguewide electronic health record system for the 2015-2019 seasons.
Results: A total of 314 ACL injuries occurred during the 5-year study period, with a mean of 62 per year. The overall 1-season injury risk of an NFL player sustaining an ACL injury was 1.9% (95% CI, 1.7%-2.1%). Most ACL injuries occurred during games (n = 199), with a higher rate observed in the preseason games as compared with the regular season games (6.1 vs 2.7 per 10,000 player-plays; < .01). NFL players with ≤3 of experience had a higher preseason injury rate (9.57 ACL tears per 1000 player-seasons) than those with ≥4 years of experience (5.12 ACL tears per 1000 player-seasons; < .01). NFL athletes playing on special teams had the highest rate of ACL injuries (7.6 per 10,000 player-plays) in comparison with all other player positions.
Conclusion: ACL injury incidence was fairly consistent across all years studied and occurred more frequently in players with ≤3 years of NFL experience. Tears were more common during games, special teams play, and the preseason.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9310443 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03635465211010146 | DOI Listing |
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