Thursday, January 29, 2009

ACL Injuries? And why Kettlebells are the perfect remedy

After an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, you lose leg strength and motion and stability of the knee. It is important that you regain your leg strength and motion as soon as possible, whether you choose to have surgery for your ACL injury or not. Exercises to regain muscle strength and knee motion should begin before you start treatment, whether treatment is a rehabilitation (rehab) program only or surgery plus rehab (WebMD).

So, after all this information why is it that most people with ACL injuries continue to train the way they used to train. After attending the CK-FMS Certification, I better understand that we develop over time bad habits or movements that eventually result in ACL injuries and much more. Just walk around a gym and look at how people move. Take a good look at how they squat, lunge, run, etc, you will be blown away.

Obviously, we want to correct and fix these imbalances early on, but not everyone wants to listen or take the time out of their training schedule to learn the corrective movements that will eventually prevent an ACL injury. So, how do Kettlebells fit into all this discussion about ACL injuries.

If you do exercises to strengthen your thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) and regain knee motion soon after an ACL injury, you will be better prepared for a rehab program or for surgery with a rehab program (WebMD). I believe that Kettlebells are a great way to strengthen all the muscles surrounding the Knee. Now, I'm not a Doctor. If you just recently had an ACL injury, please do the rehab exercises first, don't be stupid and continue your usual training methods.

Kettlebells will strengthen the quads and hamstrings that will ultimately protect and strengthen the knee. The Kettlebell Swing is a fantastic movement that is low impact and highly effective. Train smart and try Kettlebells, they will change your life and strengthen your entire body. If you learn nothing else but the Kettlebell swing, you will be way ahead of the game.

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