By Morgan Alexander SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News) – Syracuse basketball stars Chris McCullough, and Brittney Sykes are just a couple of CNY athletes that have experienced ACL injuries. A recent study has shown a direct correlation between completing a baseline test before returning to sport and the risk of re injury.
Kathleen Chaney, Syracuse Athletics trainer, says that at Syracuse University they take ACL injuries very serious.
“We want you to be at your best strength best function before you are able to return to things,” said Chaney.
It is often that certain athletes return to play too quickly either due to a coaches pressure or the pressure that the athlete feels to get back into the lineup as soon as possible. Chaney explains the protocol that the Syracuse training staff gives to the athletes to ensure that this does not happen to them.
“We take it very seriously from no matter what sport you are in. We do try to go a step wise progression we are not going to throw you to the wolves we are going to step you into strength and conditioning and some of the non contact drills,” said Chaney.
The study reported by the Business Standard states that patients who failed to receive a 90 per cent quadricep strength were 3 times more likely to suffer a ACL injury. Chaney explains that even though Syracuse surgeons do not have a baseline test they still hold the athletes to a rigorous physical therapy schedule to ensure that the quadriceps strength is where it needs to be to prevent injury.
“5 days a week Monday through Friday or take a day off during the week and do cardio and a extra day on the weekend which is not the standard for every day people out in the working world they are out there 2 maybe 3 days a week. We do step up in our amount of rehab and ability for people to come in and do extra work,” said Chaney.
Even though Syracuse athletes do not have a certain baseline test they are still well preparing the athletes to return to the field. Chaney believes that this baseline test could be performed by Syracuse athletes if necessary because they have been put through such rigorous amounts of physical therapy.
