A new report from the Medical Journal of Australia has found children aged between five and 14 was the category to experience the largest amount of growth when it came to the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions in Australia. 

The study said the annual growth in ACL injuries was 8.8 per cent for girls and 7.7 per cent for boys.

Leeton physiotherapist Sally Hill found the research to be correct, with the number of children being seen for these types of injuries increasing here in town. 

“There’s a number of theories as to why this type of injury is becoming more prevalent in young people,” she said. 

“The first is they aren’t doing enough exercise or sport wise and they just aren’t used to the movement and that’s when am injury can occur,” she said. 

“Another is almost the opposite. It’s when they are doing a lot of sport or training. 

There’s a lot of pressure being put on the area and they become fatigued, so again that’s when an ACL injury can occur.”

According to the report, 19,557  primary ACL reconstructions were performed during the study period. This amount overall increased by 43 per cent and by 74 per cent among those under the age of 25. 

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, research out of La Trobe University in Melbourne has also identified a trend of repeat injuries in young people who undergo ACL surgery. 

In the 128 young people they studied who had undergone two surgeries, almost 30 per cent went on to have a third ACL injury, but it isn’t all bad news. 

Mrs Hill said there were various programs out there relating to the injury and how to prevent it. 

“Often these injuries can relate to bad knee alignment, so through these practice programs people are taught how to currently align their body and move correctly, particularly when playing sport,” she said. 

Leeton Physiotherapy Centre is holding a Netball Australia knee injury prevention program on Thursday night to help educate and inform coaches and players. 

The cost is $5 per person, with the session to be held at the Leeton Indoor Stadium from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. There will be a key focus on preventing ACL injuries.