Knee injuries might seem like something that only affects adults—but in today’s world of youth athletics, ACL tears are showing up more and more in kids. As an ACL Doctor in Vail, Colorado, I’ve seen a noticeable rise in pediatric ACL injuries over the past decade.

The stakes are different for growing athletes. A torn ACL doesn’t just disrupt a season—it can affect growth, development, and long-term knee health if not handled properly. The good news? With the right treatment strategy, young athletes can heal, return to sport, and continue to thrive.

There’s a lot to love about summer—longer days, warmer weather, and the return of outdoor sports. But as activity ramps up, so does the risk for certain injuries, especially tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Whether you're gearing up for a weekend tournament or joining a trail running group, it's important to know how summer sports can affect your knees.

As Dr. William Sterett, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery in the mountain town of Vail, Colorado, I’ve treated thousands of ACL injuries over the course of my career. While some ACL tears are due to unavoidable factors—like genetics or bad luck—others are the result of habits and movement patterns that can absolutely be changed.

The good news? These are behaviors you can control. Let’s look at three common actions or choices that put your ACL at risk—and what you can do to protect your knees before injury strikes.

CrossFit often involves explosive movements like jumping, squatting, and cutting—all of which can put stress on the knees. The rapid changes in direction and high-impact landings in some workouts increase the risk of an ACL tear, especially if your knee isn’t adequately supported by surrounding muscles.

An ACL tear can be a daunting injury for football players, but with the right treatment and a dedicated approach to recovery, athletes can return to the field stronger and more resilient. Dr. Sterett's expertise in ACL injuries provides athletes with the tools they need to navigate their recovery journey and return to the sport they love.

OK, you’ve gotten over the shock of tearing your ACL, concluded that you should have surgery, and now your surgeon wants your input on what he should use to replace your ACL. But it feels like he is speaking a different language. Lets go over some of the lingo.

It is a well-established fact in sports medicine that females are more susceptible to ACL injuries than their male counterparts. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial stabilizing ligament in the knee, and its injury can have significant implications for an individual's mobility and athletic performance. Understanding the factors that contribute to this gender discrepancy is essential for effective injury prevention and treatment.

The journey back to sports after such a procedure is a careful and gradual process, and as we step into 2024 I want patients and athletes to have the information needed for a safe, successful recovery.

As the winter sports season unfolds, the risk of ACL injuries looms prominently in ice hockey. Dr. Bill Sterett, a distinguished board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurology, brings forth his wealth of expertise in preventing and treating ACL injuries in ice hockey players.

It is a priority to Dr. Sterett to provide patients with a comprehensive overview of ACL injuries. This blog post focus on answering the questions about anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in older adults. While ACL injuries are often associated with young athletes, they can also affect older individuals, presenting unique challenges and considerations for patients.

A suspected ACL injury comes with a feeling of uncertainty, along with many questions. Did I tear it? Will I need surgery? How long will I be out of commission? Here, we will address some of the most common questions Dr. Sterett receives about ACL tears, including symptoms, treatment options, and recovery expectations.

Wearing a knee brace after ACL surgery has been a source of controversy in the sports medicine community

Chances are, if you are a soccer player, you will have to deal with a knee injury at some point. And if you do, let Alex Morgan be your inspiration!