In this April 8, 2011, file photo, Aliya Mustafina of Russia gets assistance after suffering from an injury at the vault during the women's individual all-around gymnastics final of the Artistic Gymnastics European Championships in Berlin, Germany. Photo: AP Photo/Gero Breloer,File/MCT
Bouncing Back May Take Awhile

The number of kids with ACL injuries is on the rise because of a change in how they play sports: More kids these days are focusing on one sport intensely all year, with few breaks. In the past, kids played several different sports. ######

The treatment now is also different. It used to be that you would simply keep the knee from moving. Now, if an ACL tears, doctors put in a new ligament. Afterward, the athlete must wait six months before returning to sports.

###### Athletes who've had one are very likely to develop arthritis in the knee. Arthritis would make the knee swollen and painful to use. Athletes with an ACL injury are 10 times more likely to develop arthritis than athletes who never had an ACL injury.

"I have daughters that play sports - I'm worried about it," Schultz says.

###### It found that around half were never again able to play as well as they had before their injury.

Once you have an ACL injury, you also are more likely to have another.

Be Sure And Warm Up The Muscles

So, what does all this mean for parents, and for their daughters (and sons)?

One good idea is to look for a coach who does warm-ups with knee-saving exercises.

Bethany Thoresen is an expert when it comes to helpful exercises. ###### It's also important to strengthen the hips and leg muscles.

Parents also should get realistic about how much sports their children are doing. They should have days off and should be playing different sports. If a child is doing the same sport all year, she is overusing some muscles and not strengthening others.

###### "They are not ready for it."]]>