JOURNAL ARTICLE

Player Tracking Metrics to Predict Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries During Change-of-Direction Scenarios in the National Football League.

  • Published In: American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2025, v. 53, n. 11. P. 2523 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: O'Cain, Cody M.; Inclan, Paul M.; Spratley, E. Meade; Arbogast, Kristy B.; Lessley, David J.; Evans, W. Britt; Stollberg, Ben; Brophy, Robert H. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on analyzing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occurring during change-of-direction (CoD) scenarios in National Football League (NFL) games from 2018 to 2022, using synchronized video review and player tracking data from the Next Gen Stats (NGS) system. Among 216 ACL injuries reviewed, 46% occurred during CoD scenarios, with 98% of these players decelerating at the time of injury. Statistical modeling identified maximum speed and normalized maximum deceleration power as significant predictors of increased CoD ACL injury risk, explaining variations in injury rates across play types such as punt and kickoff returns. The findings suggest that player tracking metrics can enhance injury risk monitoring and inform targeted prevention programs by quantifying motion intensity during high-risk plays.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2025/09, Vol. 53, Issue 11, p2523
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Sports and Leisure
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0363-5465
  • DOI:10.1177/03635465251361138
  • Accession Number:187566920
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of American Journal of Sports Medicine is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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