Why is ACL prevention so critical?

• eyond immediate surgery and rehabilitation, injured athletes face an elevated lifetime risk of early-onset osteoarthritis, secondary ACL injuries (15–30% recurrence rates), and mental health struggles tied to long periods away from sport Frontiers+3aaos-annualmeeting-presskit.org+3British Journal of Sports Medicine+3.

• Younger athletes who return to sport too soon are particularly high-risk: each additional month of delaying return reduces risk of reinjury by ~17%, and each additional year of age at initial ACL reconstruction reduces secondary injury risk by ~29%