The Lurie Children's Institute for Sports Medicine is pleased to offer the Knee Injury Prevention Program (KIPP®). KIPP is a neuromuscular training program designed to reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among female adolescent athletes.
About Knee Injuries
Each year in the United States more than 20,000 high school girls suffer serious sports-related knee injuries. In fact, girls are up to six times more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) than boys in similar sports.
More than 70 percent of ACL injuries occur without any contact with another player, typically while the athlete lands from a jump or changes direction suddenly. An ACL injury at an early age is a life-changing event. Such injuries often require surgery and/or many months of rehabilitation. Sadly, regardless of treatment, ACL injuries are associated with a 10-fold increased risk for degenerative knee arthritis later in life. To address this, the sports medicine professionals at Children's Memorial Hospital have developed a Knee Injury Prevention Program (KIPP), which is designed to lower the risk of ACL injuries in female athletes.
Why Girls are More Prone
Researchers are continuing to investigate the reasons for this gender disparity in ACL injury rates. To date, the most convincing evidence points to neuromuscular differences between girls and boys. Several studies have shown that girls tend to have less neuromuscular control of knee motion than boys while performing certain athletic tasks, such as landing from a jump or changing direction suddenly. During these athletic tasks, girls tend to demonstrate less use of the hamstring muscles, less knee and hip flexion, and greater inward collapse of the knees than boys. These neuromuscular patterns have been associated with a greater risk for ACL injury.
Preventing Knee Injuries
Girls who participate in neuromuscular training programs like KIPP are up to 9 times less likely to injure their ACL. The Institute for Sports Medicine provides two different tracks for individuals interested in KIPP.
- Individual athletes or a team can participate in a 7-week training program. For more information read For Parents & Athletes.
- The Institute for Sports Medicine will train coaches of female athletic teams in a 15-minute structured warm-up incorporating injury prevention exercises. For more information read For Coaches.
Research
Our KIPP team is committed to scientific research to further our understanding of the mechanisms and prevention of sports-related knee injuries. All KIPP participants are invited to contribute to the Institute for Sports Medicine's ongoing research by completing three short questionnaires. The new information we gain from this research will be directly applied to future KIPP sessions.
Questions and Registration
Please complete the following forms to participate in KIPP. Once forms are completed please fax to 312.227.9404 or mail to: Institute for Sports Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 East Chicago Ave, Box 69, Chicago, IL 60611.
Group rates available. Please call 312.227.6527 for more information.
To learn more about KIPP or about the treatment and prevention of sports injuries in children and teens, contact
Cynthia LaBella, MD, Pediatric Sports Medicine, Lurie Children's, at 312.227.6527 or make an appointment by calling 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC).