Exercise-Based Knee and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention

Clinicians should recommend use of exercise-based knee injury prevention programs in athletes for the prevention of knee and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.* (A)

Exercise-based knee injury prevention programs used for women should incorporate multiple components, proximal control exercises, and a combination of strength and plyometric exercises. (A)

Exercise-based knee injury prevention programs should involve training multiple times per week, training sessions that last longer than 20 minutes, and training volumes that are longer than 30 minutes per week. (A)

Clinicians, coaches, parents, and athletes should start exercise-based knee injury prevention programs in the preseason and continue performing the program through the regular season. (A)

Clinicians, coaches, parents, and athletes must ensure high compliance with exercise-based knee injury prevention programs, particularly in female athletes. (A)

Exercise-based knee injury prevention programs may not need to incorporate balance exercises, and balance should not be the sole component of a program. (B)