Every year, athletes across sports face a troubling pattern. As teams gear up for the season, ACL injuries spike. Preseason and the opening weeks of competition see more torn ligaments than any other time of year. For athletes, coaches, and medical professionals, understanding why this happens is crucial to prevention. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stabilizes the knee during cutting, jumping, and sudden changes in direction. When it tears, athletes face months of recov
