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What sport has the most ACL injuries?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 24, 2026

However, of the 9 sports studied, football had the largest number of ACL injuries and the highest competition-related ACL injury rate. Athletes were 7 times more likely to sustain ACL injuries in competition than in practice. Overall, 76.6% of all ACL injuries resulted in surgery.

What sport is ACL tear most common?

Nationally, athletes are most likely to injure their ACL playing soccer than any other sport. “Soccer players cannot predictably plant their foot because they're getting jostled by an opponent while turning for the ball. A mis-planted foot can lead to an ACL tear,” says Dr. Shelbourne.

What sports cause the most knee injuries?

Certain sports, such as running, football, basketball, lacrosse or skiing, have increased risk of knee joint injury because of the harsh moves inherent to the sport. Sudden stops, twists and turns or the pressure put on the knee joint while running can cause knee pain or injury.

How common are ACL injuries in sport?

There are approximately 100,000 to 200,000 ACL ruptures per year in the United States alone. These injuries are common in professional and recreational athletes across multiple different sports. While ACL tears are common, many questions surround the injury and available treatment.

What two women's sports are the most injurious for ACL injuries?

ACL Tears By Percentage in High School Sports

  • Basketball. 5.5% (Males) 26.5% (Females)
  • Soccer. 7.2% (Males) 53.2% (Females)
  • Softball & Volleyball (Women) Softball 11.4%, Volleyball 8.8%
  • Football (Males) 71.2%
  • Which Sport Has the Most ACL Tears? Guys = Football. Ladies = Soccer.
  • Skiing...
15 related questions found

Why do athletes tear their ACL?

When the ACL tears, it's usually because the athlete rotated his hips at the wrong moment, multiplying the forces on the ACL. This can happen when someone makes a slightly awkward movement while planting his foot.

Who is most at risk for ACL injuries?

Basketball and volleyball players are more at risk from an ACL tear incurred by landing awkwardly from a jump. And football players often injure their ACL during a low tackle below their waist. However, about 60%-70% of ACL tears are non-contact injuries.

Should a 14 year old have ACL surgery?

Surgery is generally accepted as safe for teens and children who have a torn ACL that needs repair. It may not be necessary in all cases, but when it is, there is a good chance the knee function will be restored.

Can you play sport without ACL?

The ACL is the major stability ligament for the knee and as such, any serious injury would normally mean surgery or a one-way trip into retirement. But despite the obvious disadvantages there are several instances where athletes have continued to play without an ACL and have incredibly successful careers.

Can a 12 year old tear an ACL?

As pre-teens enter into puberty and grow taller and heavier, their risk of ACL injury increases – beginning at age 12 for girls, and age 14 for boys. Girls are at higher risk of ACL injury because after puberty, as their body size increases, girls do usually not develop more muscle power.

What are the top 10 sports injuries?

10 Common Sports Injuries: Prevention and Treatment

  • Runner's Knee. Knee injuries are one of the most common sporting injuries treated by orthopedic surgeons. ...
  • Shoulder Injury. Shoulder injuries are common in a number of sports. ...
  • Achilles Tendinitis. ...
  • Concussion. ...
  • Ankle Sprain. ...
  • Tennis Elbow. ...
  • Pulled Muscle. ...
  • Groin Strain.

What percent of high school athletes tear their ACL?

Percentage of ACL injuries per sport observed:

Football: 41 percent. Girls' soccer: 19 percent. Girls' basketball: 13 percent. Boys' soccer: Nine percent.

Which athletes are at an increased risk of ACL injuries?

Sports such as soccer, basketball and volleyball that involve cutting, planting and changing direction, in which the ACL plays a vital role, put athletes, particularly females, at greatest risk of ACL injury.

Do runners get ACL tears?

The Truth About ACL Injuries

The ACL is one of the most commonly injured ligaments of the knee. In general, the incidence of ACL injury is higher in people who participate in pivoting sports, such as basketball, football, skiing, and soccer, but can occur from running or other physical activities as well.

Can non athletes tear ACL?

An ACL tear or sprain is a common knee injury and happens most often to athletes. Weekend warriors and non-athletes can also sustain an ACL injury.

Why do females tear their ACL more than males?

Women generally have a wider pelvis, which means the thigh bones angle down more sharply than men and put more pressure on the inside of the knee. Women also have a narrower intercondylar notch (the groove the ACL travels through in the femur) and a smaller ACL, which can make them more prone to ACL injury.

How likely is it to Retear your ACL?

Every surgically reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament can retear. The risk ranges from one or two percent to more than 20 percent. The replacement ligament (graft) chosen for your surgery can significantly increase or decrease your chance of a retear.

Can you survive without an ACL?

Without an ACL, the knee is unlikely to support aggressive landing, cutting and pivoting. Living with a torn ACL may mean limiting participation in sports, work and activities that cause the knee to swell, give way or feel unstable. Risk of other injuries. The ACL restrains the thigh and shinbone in the knee.

Can an ACL be missing?

The incidence of congenital absence of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is extremely low. Congenital ACL absence has most often been found in association with conditions such as knee dislocation, knee dysplasia, proximal focal femoral deficiency, and fibular hemimelia.

Can you play basketball on a torn ACL?

In the case of patients that undergo ACL reconstruction, basic stability and function are restored to the knee within a few weeks of the surgery. By working with an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist, athletes such as basketball players can get back in action within 6-9 months.

Can you jump with ACL tear?

A tear of your ACL can prevent you from fully participating in sports, and you may require surgery to help repair your ACL. After an ACL injury, you may work with a physiotherapist to help you restore normal knee range of motion (ROM) and strength, decrease knee pain, and eliminate knee swelling.

Can you play sports after ACL surgery?

Most patients who undergo ACL surgery are successfully able to resume sports activity. Over 90% of patients have normal or near-normal knee function following recovery from ACL surgery.

What percent of female athletes tear their ACL?

In high school aged athletes (13-18 years), there is approximately 1.6-fold greater rate of ACL tears in females,11 and a multisport female athlete is estimated to have a nearly 10% risk of incurring an ACL injury during her high school or secondary school career.

How does a ACL tear feel?

Symptoms of an ACL Tear:

Severe pain. Rapid swelling. A loud “popping” in the knee. Knee instability where the knee feels like it will buckle and cannot support the weight.

Why did my ACL tear?

ACL injuries often happen during sports and fitness activities that can put stress on the knee: Suddenly slowing down and changing direction (cutting) Pivoting with your foot firmly planted. Landing awkwardly from a jump.