Why does it feel like ACL injuries are on the rise?

Every year, a handful of players get seriously hurt in voluntary workouts, minicamps, etc.... They're not the #3 picks in the draft, so it doesn't make national news.

 

It's no coincidence that the increase in ACL injuries has accompanied the increase in mandatory childhood vaccines.

 

Global warming.

 

The average NFL athlete from 50 years ago would likely get his ass kicked up and down the field by today's player. Bigger, faster, stronger.

All that increased power, inertia, and momentum hasn't exactly coincided with a monumental leap forward in the ability of our ligaments and tendons to handle it.

 

Increased steroid use.

Weakens the ligaments.

That would be my guess.

 

Brian Cushing syndrome.

 

I blame the Dougie. Most people can't do it right and even the best athletes struggle bending their knees properly which results in shattered ligaments. The league should take appropriate measures and ban the practice altogether.

 

Better conditioning. Players are faster and stronger than ever before. That puts a lot of strain on the body.

 

Back in my day you didn't go public with ACL injuries. You took your injections, taped it up and went back on the field. Current NFL players are SOFT.

 

The truth is none of us on this forum ****ing know, lol. But I would guess it's this. The players used to be 4 cylinder Hondas, now they're tuned AMG Mercedes. Performance cars are prone to breaking down.

 

Ligaments don't necessarily scale with muscles

 

While there are more injuries now, suregons are far better equipped to perform successful/longer lasting repairs that has players back at full strength... Wasn't always the case in the past.