Dr. Prince Pambo, team doctor of Ghana’s senior national team, has ascribed the rise of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries to packed training and game schedules.
With the latest injury to Alidu Seidu and Fatawu Issahaku, Black Stars have racked up couple of injuries in recent times with the vast majority of them are anterior cruciate ligament. It is a topic that national teams and club's are analysing very seriously in this period, also because in practical terms it results in a lack of depth which reduces the ability to rotate and costs points down the line.
Speaking to Flashscore, Dr. Prince Pambo provided his thoughts on the current ACL struggles, which he believes are due to packed schedules which are major factors that contribute to player injuries.
“What we have noticed is that the load players are exposed to have quadrupled compared to previous times. Players are now participating in more games and training sessions than ever before, which increases their risk of injury.
“ACL injuries are not something any player wishes for themselves or even for an enemy. When Fatawuhad his injured, it was heavy for everyone in the team.”
Pambo also explains what the possible solutions could be, given that these are unprecedented times that medical staffs are facing.
“It is time for our medical team and sports psychologists to work with players on managing their mental health after such setbacks.”
“We monitor each player’s history and adjust training loads accordingly,” he explains.
Pambo added that: “The quality of pitches can also contribute to injury risk. Uneven surfaces can lead to twists around the knee that result in ACL tears.”
By: Pascal Amoah
