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Nearly 150K ACL Injuries Occur in US Each Year, Reports NJ Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Gross
Nearly 150K ACL Injuries Occur in US Each Year, Reports NJ Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Gross
Dr. Michael Gross of Active Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine explains ACL prevention and treatment.
Westwood,
NJ,
United States of America
(sardnews.org)
03/01/2013
The ACL - or, anterior cruciate ligament - is undeniably one of the most important ligaments of the knee. Responsible for both stabilizing and minimizing stress on the joint, the ACL is also a ligament highly susceptible to injury. Westwood and Hackensack's Dr. Michael Gross explains this phenomenon and offers a few tips for ACL injury prevention.
"As one of the most common sports-related injuries, there are nearly 150,000 ACL injuries in the US, each and every year," reports Dr. Gross. "This can range from a slightly stretched ACL to an outright tear." Dr. Gross' assertion is confirmed by recent data published by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
"While an ACL injury can have internal contributing factors, it is most often a result of activities like landing, pivoting, or sharp cutting," explains Dr. Gross. "That's why sports like soccer and basketball tend to be the biggest culprits."
Asked to offer tips on ACL injury prevention, Dr. Gross offered this: "While there's no single way to prevent all sports-related injuries, there are steps an athlete can take to protect himself," explained Dr. Gross. "This often includes strength training and special groups of exercises known as plyometrics."
But, despite a patient's best efforts, Dr. Gross explained that ACL injuries are sometimes inevitable. He took a moment to describe how these types of injuries are treated at his practice. "When an ACL becomes torn, it's not going to heal on its own. Very often, a patient will require an ACL reconstruction procedure," explains Dr. Gross. "The surgery replaces the damaged ligament with a tissue graft."
Asked about what patients can expect following the procedure, Dr. Gross concluded with this: "An ACL injury can take a huge toll not only on an athlete's performance, but their emotional state as well," explains Dr. Gross. "And, while each patient is unique, it's important to understand that with rehabilitation and modified sports training, many patients enjoy a complete recovery and return to their sport."
About Dr. Gross
Dr. Michael Gross is a highly respected orthopedic surgeon practicing in New Jersey. Board certified in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Gross also holds a subspecialty certificate in Sports Medicine.
Dr. Gross received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in 1983, followed by an internship in general surgery and residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Completing advanced fellowship training in Sports Medicine at UCLA Medical Center, Dr. Gross served on the medical staff of the UCLA Bruins.
Practicing at Active Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Gross can be reached at (201) 358-0707 in Westwood, (201) 343-2277 in Hackensack or at www.activeorthopedic.com
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About Active Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Dr. Rhim specializes in spinal reconstructive surgery utilizing the latest minimally-invasive and microsurgical techniques as well as traditional open surgery, where appropriate.
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