The best way to prevent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
injuries is to stretch and strengthen the leg muscles,
especially the front and back muscles of the thigh (quadriceps
and hamstrings). Other precautions that may help prevent ACL
injuries include: - Avoid wearing shoes with cleats in contact -
Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. - Avoid sports that involve
lots of twisting and contact. If you have already had an ACL
injury, you can avoid another ACL injury by: - Strengthening the
injured knee through - Changing your sports techniques to avoid
motions that might stress the injured knee. - Changing your
lifestyle sports that have a high risk of injuring your knee
further, such as skiing, football, soccer, or basketball. -
Wearing a knee brace during high-risk activities. But braces
should be used only if rehabilitation is also being done.
Wearing a brace alone may be of little benefit and may give you
a false sense of security. Programs to prevent ACL injuries are
available. These programs generally emphasiz