ACL Prevention Plus: Bethany Physical Therapy

Whole-body training to prevent knee injury and enhance athletic performance, utilizing each athlete’s strengths while identifying and improving biomechanical weaknesses

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Knee injuries are one of the more common and costly problems that young athletes, parents, and coaches face. Injury to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) can be especially devastating because it takes the most time and money to treat and rehabilitate. Unfortunately, ACL injury occurs at a high rate within the United States, and high school athletes, especially females, are most at risk.

Fortunately, the growing understanding of ACL injuries allows physical therapists to better identify and treat individuals at risk for this injury based on the presence of certain biomechanical risk factors and observed movement patterns when performing a variety of sport-like tasks. As movement experts, therapists are learning that the reasons for ACL injuries are often linked to the function of the hip, foot, and even abdominals, and that strength is only a part of the knee protection equation that includes coordination, range of motion, and practice and balance in various conditions and positions of function.

Bethany Physical Therapy combines movement expertise and scientific advancement in offering ACL Prevention Plus, a fun and dynamic program focused on combining traditionally effective knee injury prevention programs with more specific assessment and treatment of your body’s specific injury risk and needs for improvement.

ACL Prevention Plus Includes:

• Weekly group training sessions at Bethany Physical Therapy, with sessions including:
  • An individualized “functional interview” of your biomechanical strengths and weakness as it relates to your knee and athletic performance
  • Development of individualized exercises and training routines to improve your knee-related biomechanical weaknesses
• Complimentary assessment and initial instructions for athletes identified as more “at risk”**
• Complimentary sessions and instruction for high school sport teams, coaches, and trainers**
• Assistance in continuing team or school-based ACL prevention programs that can be run by coaches, trainers, or athletes themselves

** Please contact Bethany Physical Therapy for details

ACL Prevention Plus Program Details:

Training sessions every Monday and Thursday, beginning May 2010

• Full 12-session, 6-week program for just $100 per athlete
• Same day drop-in fee of $10 per athlete per training session

Please call Bethany Physical Therapy for registration or more details.

Program Director: Matt Blievernicht PT, DPT

Matt is a doctor of physical therapy and former competitive basketball player turned weekend-warrior. He injured his knee playing basketball as a high school sophomore after trying to increase his “hops” performing a plyometrics program in his basement. He has since been motivated to improve the knee function and performance of high school athletes while having fun and making sure his own knee stays “up to par.” Since physical therapy school, he has pursued advanced training in functional biomechanics of the lower extremity through the Gray Institute.