Dr. John Rodriguez, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries at Texas Orthopedics, sees a noticeable rise in ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and meniscus tears every fall. With the return of football, soccer, volleyball, cross country, and other high-intensity activities, athletes of all levels—from high school to collegiate and even recreational weekend warriors—face a heightened risk of knee injuries.
Understanding how these injuries occur, how to prevent them, and when to seek treatment can make all the difference in getting back to peak performance safely.
What Are ACL and Meniscus Tears?
ACL tears typically occur with sudden changes in direction, awkward landings from a jump, or direct contact during play. The ACL is one of the key ligaments that stabilizes your knee. When it tears, the knee often gives out, swells rapidly, and feels unstable.
Meniscus tears are injuries to the cartilage that cushions and stabilizes the knee joint. These can happen during twisting motions, often alongside ACL tears, especially in high-impact sports.
Both injuries can significantly limit mobility, cause pain and swelling, and, if untreated, lead to long-term joint issues.
Why Fall Sports Pose Higher Risk
Fall sports demand rapid movement, cutting, jumping, or tackling, all of which strain the knees. Wet or uneven playing surfaces and inadequate warmups further increase the likelihood of injury. Adolescent athletes are particularly vulnerable due to ongoing physical development and, sometimes, a lack of proper training in biomechanics and conditioning.
As a sports injury specialist, Dr. Rodriguez firmly believes prevention is just as important as treatment. “All athletes, even kids, need to be incremental about getting back into shape”, says Dr. Rodriguez. “Focus on building muscle strength, flexibility and cardiovascular endurance in the beginning. Usually, a lot of early problems are too much, too fast,” he said. “At all levels, the preseason is one of the highest times for injuries, whether it’s the NFL or even middle school sports.”
According to Dr. Rodriquez, “A lot of that is preventable if they come into the season in really good shape. Body maintenance year-round is important for athletes. You should never have gotten out of shape in the first place. If you are counting on getting in shape for football, yes, it works most of the time, but you’re putting yourself at risk for injuries.”
Dr. Rodriguez says athletes need to work on building symmetry in their bodies to help prevent these kinds of injuries. They can have a trainer or a physical therapist evaluate them and give them exercises to work on building on both strength and range of motion on each side of the body.
Later in the season, injuries are not so much from not being conditioned well. Instead it’s overuse injuries.
“Athletes should warm up by doing dynamic stretches, such as high kicks. They should cool down with more static stretches, such as pulling your foot behind you to stretch out the hamstring muscle,” Dr. Rodriguez said. “It’s not just about the football players. People taking part in dance, band, color guard and other physical activities all need to be in good shape to make it through the season.” Young athletes, in particular, should take scheduled breaks. Rest is a critical component of injury prevention and overall performance.
If you or your athlete experiences a popping sound in the knee, swelling, instability, or pain during motion, especially after a sudden twist or landing, don’t wait. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential. Imaging like MRI is often required to assess the extent of the injury and determine whether surgery is necessary.
However, surgery is not always the first or only solution, and treatment plans should be individualized based on age, activity level, and goals. If you’ve received a diagnosis and are unsure about the next step, getting a second opinion can offer peace of mind and help you make an informed decision.
Sports injuries are Dr. Rodriguez’s specialty, and he is here to help guide you through every phase—from diagnosis to rehabilitation. If you or your athlete needs expert insight into an ACL or meniscus injury, please consider seeing Dr. Rodriguez at Texas Orthopedics for a primary diagnosis or second opinion.
Dr. Rodriguez sees patients at the Lakeway, Leander and Northwest Austin offices of Texas Orthopedics. To schedule an appointment, please call (512) 485-0530 or schedule an appointment online.
