Tottenham Defender Dragusin Suffers ACL Injury: The Challenge of ACL Injuries in Football and How We Can Prevent Them
As a physiotherapist and founder of Technique Health and Fitness, I’ve seen first-hand how devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries can be for athletes. The news that Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin has suffered an ACL tear is a stark reminder of the physical demands football places on the body and the importance of injury prevention writes Mike Aunger.
The Impact of ACL Injuries in Football
ACL injuries are among the most serious a footballer can face. The ligament is crucial for knee stability, and when it ruptures, it often means surgery followed by six to nine months of rehabilitation. This kind of injury doesn’t just impact a player’s season; it can have long-term consequences on their career.
One of the most frustrating aspects of ACL injuries is that many of them occur in non-contact situations—often during sudden changes of direction, awkward landings, or deceleration after a sprint. It’s a problem I’ve worked with in clinic numerous times, and I’ve seen how the right approach to training, recovery, and injury prevention can make a significant difference.
Why Do ACL Injuries Happen?
Football is a sport that constantly challenges the body’s ability to stabilise, react, and absorb force. The risk of an ACL injury increases due to:
Explosive movements – Rapid cutting, pivoting, and jumping place excessive strain on the knee.
Muscle imbalances – Weak hamstrings relative to the quadriceps can increase stress on the ACL.
Fatigue and overload – Tired muscles lead to poor movement control, making players more vulnerable.
Footwear and pitch conditions – Some boots and playing surfaces create too much traction, leading to high-stress knee movements.
How Can We Reduce the Risk?
At Technique Health and Fitness, our physios, osteopaths and strength and conditioning coaches focus on the key principles of prevention, performance, and recovery to help athletes build stronger, more resilient bodies. For footballers—whether professionals like Dragusin or amateurs looking to stay injury-free—these strategies are essential:
A structured training plan that strengthens the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and core can protect the knee from excessive strain.
Eccentric hamstring exercises, such as Nordic curls, are particularly effective at reducing ACL risk.
Neuromuscular and Stability Training
Proprioception, balance, and agility drills train the body to move safely and efficiently under pressure.
Programmes like FIFA 11+ have been shown to significantly lower ACL injury rates.
Biomechanical Screening and Movement Re-Education
Assessing how an athlete runs, cuts, and lands can highlight risk factors before they lead to injury.
Correcting poor mechanics through targeted training helps offload stress from the knee.
Load Management and Recovery
Overtraining and fatigue are major contributors to injuries. Monitoring workload and ensuring adequate rest is key.
Recovery strategies—including sleep, nutrition, and physiotherapy—help maintain peak performance.
Appropriate Footwear and Playing Surfaces
Choosing boots suited to the pitch conditions can reduce excessive traction, which is a known factor in ACL injuries.
Dragusin’s Road to Recovery
For Dragusin, the next few months will be about progressive rehabilitation—starting with restoring range of motion, then rebuilding strength, stability, and confidence in his knee. He’ll go through a carefully structured return-to-play protocol, ensuring he’s not just pain-free but also fully prepared for the high demands of Premier League football.
From my experience, the players who return strongest after an ACL injury are those who not only follow their rehab plan but also make changes to how they train and move to prevent it from happening again. Football is an intense, high-risk sport, but with the right preparation and injury prevention strategies, we can help players perform at their best while reducing the likelihood of career-threatening setbacks.
At Technique Health and Fitness, we’re passionate about helping athletes—from weekend warriors to elite professionals—stay fit, strong, and resilient. Injuries like Dragusin’s remind us why this work is so important. Prevention is always better than cure, and with the right approach, we can keep more players on the pitch, enjoying the game they love.