These tips from CHKD's sports medicine experts can help keep those knees healthy.

  1. Teach girls to land from jumps with their knees bent, not straight.
  2. Teach them how to pivot, cut and turn from a crouched position.
  3. Strengthening the hamstrings will lessen stress on the knee.
  4. Strong core muscles (trunk and pelvis) will help maintain proper body alignment.
  5. Make sure they wear shoes designed for the sport as well as the playing surface.
  6. Participating in an ACL injury prevention program can decrease the risk of injury by more than 80 percent.