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ACL Injuries

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The problem is multi faceted. We are obsessed with deadlifts, squats and benchpressing. We see these as 'the standard', and froth at the mouth over metrics and increasing numbers. We are emphasising all these massive lifts that compound asymmetries in individuals, some have more or some have less. When we lift such large weights this puts pressure on our joints affecting our ligaments and fascia, making asymmetries worse over time, which leads to bad running mechanics and compensations. As this is a results focused game, we want size and we want it now, with no care for functionality. We all know players who have gotten injections to play games and took it too far and now have new hips and knees before 40, it doesnt have to be this way. I would rather a team of lean, athletic, functional players who get injured rarely, over a team of mountain men who can barely play 10 games for club and county a season. As someone who has been through the ringer with injuries and come out the other side by ditching the incessant race for size. We need to focus on being able to have our players move well by improving their gait and biomechanics. McMon (Monaghan) - Posts: 4 - 18/08/2026 11:18:05 2690277 Link
GAA are currently under taking an extensive research study on this. Have quick search there on gaa.ie/article/acl-research-survey. Liam Moffatt (Physio) from Mayo is heavily involved. There's two different surveys 1. Questions to players and 2. Club administrator questions. GDL (Galway) - Posts: 972 - 18/08/2026 11:42:11 2690280 Link
Plenty of statistical analysis in sport and beyond these days. Would love to know if there's any correlation between the increase in ACL injuries and the increase in training and games on astro pitches? GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8716 - 18/08/2026 11:49:44 2690283 Link
Replying To McMon: "The problem is multi faceted. We are obsessed with deadlifts, squats and benchpressing. We see these as 'the standard', and froth at the mouth over metrics and increasing numbers. We are emphasising all these massive lifts that compound asymmetries in individuals, some have more or some have less. When we lift such large weights this puts pressure on our joints affecting our ligaments and fascia, making asymmetries worse over time, which leads to bad running mechanics and compensations. As this is a results focused game, we want size and we want it now, with no care for functionality. We all know players who have gotten injections to play games and took it too far and now have new hips and knees before 40, it doesnt have to be this way. I would rather a team of lean, athletic, functional players who get injured rarely, over a team of mountain men who can barely play 10 games for club and county a season. As someone who has been through the ringer with injuries and come out the other side by ditching the incessant race for size. We need to focus on being able to have our players move well by improving their gait and biomechanics." Biometrics is very important. And plyometric exercises are the best way to go to increase explosiveness. Exercises like box jumps are things an u12 can do. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20514 - 18/08/2026 13:24:43 2690307 Link
Replying To GreenandRed: "Plenty of statistical analysis in sport and beyond these days. Would love to know if there's any correlation between the increase in ACL injuries and the increase in training and games on astro pitches?" Another issue thats been raised is the type of studs alot of lads are using these days. Blades allow for alot less lateral movement. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20514 - 18/08/2026 13:26:15 2690308 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Biometrics is very important. And plyometric exercises are the best way to go to increase explosiveness. Exercises like box jumps are things an u12 can do." I agree, but that is already being done. We need a complete overhaul of how we train our players. It is clear what is happening in the weights room is having a negative impact on the field. Bigger, stronger, faster, yes, but we are now seeing the long term side affects of this. More injuries, more niggles. If you cant mover correctly then compensation happens. How often do we see lads do an ACL and a year later do the other one, thats because they are over compensating on the 'good' leg, and it gives out eventually. Theres a reason things like Functional Patterns are booming right now. People are sick of being in pain and getting injured. McMon (Monaghan) - Posts: 4 - 18/08/2026 14:58:50 2690329 Link
Replying To GDL: "GAA are currently under taking an extensive research study on this. Have quick search there on gaa.ie/article/acl-research-survey. Liam Moffatt (Physio) from Mayo is heavily involved. There's two different surveys 1. Questions to players and 2. Club administrator questions." It's good to hear that the GAA is looking into this. It's becoming way too frequent. Ruairí Kinsella had an excellent article in the Irish Times about the tedious and tiresome work of recovery. They are truly awful injuries and the staggering amount we've been having lately is unbelievable. RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 103 - 18/08/2026 16:28:06 2690345 Link
Replying To McMon: "I agree, but that is already being done. We need a complete overhaul of how we train our players. It is clear what is happening in the weights room is having a negative impact on the field. Bigger, stronger, faster, yes, but we are now seeing the long term side affects of this. More injuries, more niggles. If you cant mover correctly then compensation happens. How often do we see lads do an ACL and a year later do the other one, thats because they are over compensating on the 'good' leg, and it gives out eventually. Theres a reason things like Functional Patterns are booming right now. People are sick of being in pain and getting injured." "We need a complete overhaul of how we train our players. It is clear what is happening in the weights room is having a negative impact on the field." Why qualifies you to say this? Where did you get your information from? Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2959 - 18/08/2026 16:29:46 2690346 Link
Replying To McMon: "I agree, but that is already being done. We need a complete overhaul of how we train our players. It is clear what is happening in the weights room is having a negative impact on the field. Bigger, stronger, faster, yes, but we are now seeing the long term side affects of this. More injuries, more niggles. If you cant mover correctly then compensation happens. How often do we see lads do an ACL and a year later do the other one, thats because they are over compensating on the 'good' leg, and it gives out eventually. Theres a reason things like Functional Patterns are booming right now. People are sick of being in pain and getting injured." Last I heard noone pushed anyone into a gym with a shotgun...... Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20514 - 18/08/2026 16:49:00 2690352 Link
I find it hard to believe it's the schedule considering Meath won Div 2. in late March, then had a 3 week break before playing 1 game in April, 4 weeks off before playing a single game in May, then a 3 week break before playing on 2 successive weekends in June. Hardly the cause of ACL injuries 2 months later. CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1757 - 18/08/2026 19:20:04 2690375 Link
Replying To McMon: "I agree, but that is already being done. We need a complete overhaul of how we train our players. It is clear what is happening in the weights room is having a negative impact on the field. Bigger, stronger, faster, yes, but we are now seeing the long term side affects of this. More injuries, more niggles. If you cant mover correctly then compensation happens. How often do we see lads do an ACL and a year later do the other one, thats because they are over compensating on the 'good' leg, and it gives out eventually. Theres a reason things like Functional Patterns are booming right now. People are sick of being in pain and getting injured." I think the return of the more wirely, leaner agile player is likely the prototype of player we may see going forward. A focus on speed and agility. Ok yes strength is very important but no necessarily excess bulk that puts extra stress on players during moments of imbalance. winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 1045 - 18/08/2026 21:43:49 2690382 Link
Replying To Cockney_Cat: ""We need a complete overhaul of how we train our players. It is clear what is happening in the weights room is having a negative impact on the field." Why qualifies you to say this? Where did you get your information from?" My own experience, dealing with clients who have moved away from this type of training and their injuries have stopped McMon (Monaghan) - Posts: 4 - 19/08/2026 08:53:35 2690391 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Last I heard noone pushed anyone into a gym with a shotgun......" What do you think would happen if a young fella or lady tried to tell their manager they arent going to be doing the prescribed gym sessions? McMon (Monaghan) - Posts: 4 - 19/08/2026 08:55:05 2690392 Link
Replying To McMon: "What do you think would happen if a young fella or lady tried to tell their manager they arent going to be doing the prescribed gym sessions?" If you aren't able to compete on the pitch then you will be dropped. Same as it was in the 80s and 90s. And likely all the way back til the 1880s. I know several lads who play intercounty currently or played in the recent past who do very little bulking up in the gym as they are naturally big men. I even know of some players at both club and county level that had to de-bulk. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20514 - 19/08/2026 11:36:10 2690412 Link
Replying To winatallcost: "I think the return of the more wirely, leaner agile player is likely the prototype of player we may see going forward. A focus on speed and agility. Ok yes strength is very important but no necessarily excess bulk that puts extra stress on players during moments of imbalance." Speed has been the most important physical attribute for the last few years now. You still need to be big enough to withstand a hit. If you look back over time all the best teams throughout history were known to be big strong men for their day. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20514 - 19/08/2026 11:38:57 2690413 Link
Replying To McMon: "What do you think would happen if a young fella or lady tried to tell their manager they arent going to be doing the prescribed gym sessions?" If a coach cant see wider picture than theyre not a good coach. KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3998 - 19/08/2026 12:52:17 2690432 Link
Replying To KillingFields: "If a coach cant see wider picture than theyre not a good coach." 100%. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8716 - 19/08/2026 13:43:26 2690440 Link
Replying To Kew: "The GAA spend millions on coaching but have they addressed fitness? How many coaches are telling players what to do and it's all wrong ? Coaching poorly is one thing but weights training poorly is risky. Maybe it's time GAA change some of the funding routes ?" I play Aussie Rules for the past few years in Melbourne at the equivalent of "a good club" level. I was talking to the club S&C coach one evening and showed him the pre-season schedule for a club player. He nearly fell off the seat. His very words were "why are coaches putting that sort of load on the body? You need 6-8 week max of pre-season in any sport, that training schedule is a recipe for injuries". He said even American Football players do gym work in April/May for a season that starts in August. You would love to see the MISCP or some professional body provide some oversight on some of these charlatans doing S&C but its not a regulated industry so anybody can call themselves S&C. StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2158 - 19/08/2026 14:08:41 2690443 Link
Replying To KillingFields: "If a coach cant see wider picture than theyre not a good coach." +1, but plenty of coaches can't see the wider picture and the answer to their failure last year is "more training, more S&C, more nights in the field, more cash". StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2158 - 19/08/2026 14:16:22 2690444 Link
Replying To McMon: "My own experience, dealing with clients who have moved away from this type of training and their injuries have stopped" Clients? What clients? What are your professional qualifications? Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2959 - 19/08/2026 14:26:54 2690448 Link