I recently spent some time with Ron Prenger and Dr Russell Bond at Cox Health being introduced to a new community program they have launched to help prevent ACL injuries in female soccer players. The Glendale Soccer website first pointed to the issue last September when webmaster Bob Jordan linked to a story in USA Today about the PEP Program.
The Prevent injury, Enhance Performance, or PEP, program reduced non-contact ACL tears by up to 88% in a two-year study of 1,400 NCAA Division I female soccer players by Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Foundation.
“It’s a proven training program,” said DeVinney, foundation vice president and chief program officer.
Each ACL injury can cost $17,000 in surgical repair and rehabilitation, not counting possible future complications, such as osteoarthritis or total knee arthroplasty, which are believed to occur more often in ACL-deficient or ACL-reconstructed knees. On top of that is the emotional and psychological cost.
As parents of talented soccer players themselves (Anne Prenger and Jamie Bond), Bond and Prenger took it upon themselves to research the program and ultimately make arrangements to license it and bring it to the Springfield Soccer community.
The PEP Program (Prevent injury and Enhance Performance) targets female soccer athletes ages 14 and older. The program includes a video presentation and discussion, followed by an on-field/gym training session.
I attended a session put on with the Glendale Lady Falcon’s earlier this week (click on the photo above to be taken to additional pictures). When queried by Trainer Chris Baker (former Drury Women’s coach), over 80% of the girls attending had first hand knowledge of a teammate who has torn a ligament. The Falcon’s 2007 season faced a huge hurdle last year when midfield general Megan Garrard (pictured far right above) went down with a torn ACL .
Perhaps it was with that knowledge that seniors Lorin Opfer and Maggie Schrier noted after the session that they were committed to continuing the steps learned in the session and incorporating them into their practice schedule as the Spring 2008 season approaches.
For an understanding of the impact it might have on a squad, I asked Coaches Lindsay Paulsell and Mike Gunnels of JB Marine Springfield their thoughts on the program. Their U16 girls team were the guinea pigs for the program, attending a session last year. Here is what they had to say:
First, I want to send out a special thanks to Dr. Bond and his staff for researching the PEP program and bringing it to the Ozarks. We have been pleased with the PEP program.
I will say that I was skeptical at first, especially after watching the video. But the program has paid off. We implemented it in August and did the program three times a week the first month and then twice a week(one at practice and one at home) for the rest of season. Though the girls think the program is silly at times, I have seen a remarkable improvement in knee stability.
U15/16 girls are at such a vulnerable age for knee injuries. Many of my players have seen teammates go down with significant knee injuries and it just breaks their hearts. Knock on wood, we have not had a single knee injury(with exception to growth soreness) this season and we have played in seven competitive tournaments so far. I would suggest the PEP program to all female players staring in MS and continuing through college.
The PEP program at CoxHealth is free to participating high school, college and club teams signing up as a group.
For more information, contact Jason Pyrah at 417/269-9023 or via e-mail Jason.Pyrah@coxhealth.com.
