Jumping rope reduces soccer knee injuries

Published: Jan. 8, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Order reprints
HOUSTON , Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Jumping rope with knees bent is one way to learn landing and one way to avoid soccer knee injuries, a U.S. orthopedic surgeon advises.

Dr. Kaare Kolstad of The Methodist Hospital in Houston notes the number of knee injuries among female soccer players is growing at an alarming rate.

"Women injure their knees, especially their anterior cruciate ligaments, six to nine times more than men," Kolstad said in a statement.

Kolstad explains height and muscular changes in maturing female athletes cause them to have less knee joint control and they tend to get hurt when stopping abruptly or jumping. However, these problems can be combated by strengthening core muscles -- back, abdominal and hip -- and teaching proper jumping technique.

"Sit ups, push ups, mild weight training such as leg presses, especially for children ages 13 to 16, will go a long way towards strengthening these muscles," Kolstad said.

She also advises a jumping program for correctly practicing leaping and landings such as:

-- Jumping up and down off a small platform.

-- Hopping back and forth over cones.

-- Jumping forward from a straight position and landing with the knees bent.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



S.F. mayor orders healthy food in city (<1 min)
Phelps sets world record in butterfly (11 min)
Lawyer: Couple had right to kill dog (18 min)
Fires blazing across Alaska (37 min)
Palin details ethics complaint costs (39 min)
Report: Judge blocks NFL suspensions (43 min)
Change reduces abortion-pill infections (46 min)
fark
Photoshop this artistic smoker
Swami Baba Ramdev has challenged a landmark Indian court ruling legalising gay sex, claiming it...
AZ man blows a smooth .40 with almost sober looking mugshot
When trying to get away from the police, driving off a boat launch only works on tv and the movies....
Sears, Kmart already selling Christmas merchandise
MoveOn.org draws a crowd of 30 demonstrators in Alabama. None miss work