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
After the surgery, athletes usually face six months of rehabilitation exercises before they can return to sports. ###### Athletes who had an ACL injury are 10 times more likely to have early-onset degenerative knee osteoarthritis than those who never had an ACL injury.

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

A study of athletes older than 18 with an ACL injury found that only about half were able to return to their previous level of performance.

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Prevention Is Possible

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

Consider choosing sports programs with an athletic trainer who is leading kids through knee-saving exercises.

Physical therapist Bethany Thoresen says prevention is all about strengthening the knees. "It's about doing exercises that are going to strengthen the hips, quads, hamstrings and glutes as well as build core strength. ######

Thoresen also recommends that kids who are active in sports see a physical therapist or trainer before an injury happens. The professional will look at how kids jump and at how much control they have over their muscles. It's good to be able to identify areas of weakness. ######

While you can download exercise videos, don't leave it at that. Thoresen added: To prevent injury, a professional should check to make sure the exercises are being done properly.

Parents also should get realistic about how much sports kids are doing. Kids should have days off and should be doing different activities - 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."]]>