Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most prevalent and concerning injuries in sports today. Each year, an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 ACL tears occur in the United States alone (Kaeding et al., 2017; Paterno, 2015), with long-term epidemiological studies showing that ACL injury rates are steadily rising (Maniar et al., 2022).

Female athletes face a significantly higher risk of ACL injury compared to their male counterparts, with studies indicating a 3 to 8 times greater relative risk (Ardern et al., 2018). This disparity can be attributed to a combination of anatomical, biomechanical, and neuromuscular factors (Silvers-Granelli, 2021; Sutton and Bullock, 2013). Additionally, younger athletes are particularly vulnerable, with research highlighting an elevated risk among this population (Montalvo et al., 2019).

Certain sports report higher incidences of ACL tears. Soccer and basketball lead the statistics at the high school level (Joseph et al., 2013; Gornitzky et al., 2017), while gymnastics, field hockey, American football, and rugby also show notable rates of ACL injury (Montalvo et al., 2019). These sports involve frequent cutting, pivoting, and sudden deceleration movements, all of which increase the likelihood of non-contact ACL tears.

Re-injury rates remain a pressing concern, even after surgical intervention and extensive rehabilitation. Some studies suggest that up to 30% of athletes experience a second ACL injury post-return to sport, with professional footballers showing a 17.8% re-injury rate (Della-Villa et al., 2021).

As the incidence of ACL tears continues to climb, understanding these statistics is crucial for developing effective prevention and rehabilitation strategies. By acknowledging the populations most at risk and the sports with the highest injury rates, clinicians, coaches, and athletes can work towards reducing these numbers and ensuring safer athletic environments.