Sports Medicine:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
- A basketball player grabs
a pass and pivots towards the basket. Her foot is planted, her knee
twists, and she falls to the ground grabbing her knee.
- A downhill skier has one
ski get stuck in the snow while his knees continue their motion. He
hears a loud pop as he falls into a snowbank.
- A football player gets
tackled and feels his knee give out.
These scenarios describe some ways an athlete can tear the anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL) in their knee. Although this injury was at one
point career ending, today aggressive rehabilitation and surgery allow
many athletes to return to their former level of competition, whether that
is professional athletics or weekend games of touch football with friends.
ACL injuries can seriously comprise your athletic
performance and if uncorrected may result in further damage to
the knee or a decreased functional level. Patients with an isolated ACL
tear and moderate physical demands may respond well to physical therapy
and brace wear alone. However, symptomatic patients and athletes usually
require surgical reconstruction to restore stability in order to return to
their previous level of competition/function.
Tearing your ACL: How it happens
Typically, and ACL injury occurs when an athlete performs a twisting or
cutting movement, or less commonly with direct contact.
The knee "gives way" and an audible pop or snap may be heard.
This injury may be quite painful, but not necessarily so. Swelling follows
soon thereafter.
If you suffer a knee injury, you should apply ice (20 minutes on, 20
minutes off) and elevate the leg in order to reduce swelling. Crutches are
beneficial. Early and full range of knee motion is essential. Although
there is often some improvement early on, returning to sports brings out
the feeling of instability again. Further injury to the knee may result.
What exactly is an ACL?
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