Nationwide, Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears have become increasingly prevelent, and the Augustana soccer team has suffered five ACL injuries in the past five seasons.
Earlier this season, senior Katie Shandri, midfielder for the Augustana soccer team, tore her ACL and brought an early end to her soccer career. Shandri's teammates are storming onward in their season, but their concerns about injuries remain fresh.
In addition to the rising number of collegiate injuries, five members of the team have suffered ACL injuries previously in their careers.
"It's pretty brutal," head coach Brandon Barkus said. "It takes discipline and patience to overcome it."
"ACL tears are challenging because of the rehabilitation time," junior Stacy Dally, a teammate of Shandri, said.
"With an ACL injury, you're out for approximately six months depending on each person," Dally said. "It's really hard to see because it's six months out of their season to take time to recover even though it can happen in an instant."
The ACL is one of four main ligaments in the knee and is responsible for keeping the knee stable. ACL injuries occur most often in sports that require swift changes in direction through pivoting, cutting, landing and quick stops that stress the knee.
ACL injuries also occur four to eight times more frequently in women than men, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Researchers disagree why women are at a higher risk, but repeated studies confirm the results.
The Journal for Bone and Joint Surgerysays that younger patients, ages 20-29, have a 43 percent higher risk for surgery after a previous tear, and women have an 18 percent higher chance than men to need additional surgery.
Shandri's teammate and senior Stephanie Goos said players who are back from injuries just have to get back into the game.
"I know coming back to practice is a little scary," Goos said. "But if you're afraid to get hurt, you probably will. You just have to focus on playing and then the other team doesn't have a chance to even touch you."
Junior Jessica Perez has torn her left ACL twice, once in high school and once in college.
"I'm probably not as aggressive as I used to be because I'm more aware of it," Perez said. "I'm smarter with tackles. You have to play smarter, because if it happens again, I'm done."
The AAOS recommends prevention strategies to help athletes prevent ACL tears that include endurance and strength training.
"Soccer is a physically demanding sport," Barkus said. "We have a strong physical fitness program and that is a strong component in reducing ACL injuries."
The AAOS also says women can prevent ACL injuries by working on landing techniques that flex the hips and knees and balance the upper body equally over the legs.
Despite prevention training, the AAOS predicts one in 10 female college athletes playing high-risk sports, such as basketball, handball, soccer and tennis, will injure their ACL before graduation. When a teammate is injured, Perez says keeping them involved as much as possible is important.
"When I was hurt, I still got to travel with the team," Perez said.
"Maintain those relationships and stay as much a part of the team as you can," Perez said. "You have a great opportunity to mentor younger members of the team and you learn a lot just by watching."
Motivation to get better helps the healing process, Dally said.
"It just stinks sitting out and watching your teammates play and there isn't anything you can do about it," said Dally. "You want to be better as soon as possible. You want to be out there."
Perez said injuries do not deminish her passion for soccer and despite the risks, she will continue playing.
"You love the game, so you're willing to do whatever it takes," Perez said.
Injuries and healing may be a part of playing soccer, but the AAOS says that immediate recovery may not mean permanent health to joints.
Within 10 years of their injuries, 90 percent of patients who recover from ACL surgeries develop arthritis in their knees.
"I know maybe later on in life it might be harder for me," Dally said. "But right now, this is what I love to do and I am going to continue to do it."
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