Don’t Let ACL Injury Happen to You
ACL injury can be simply defined as a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The main function of the ACL is to keep the knee stable; but when the knee is distorted in any way, or is stretched beyond its capacity, an ACL injury can occur. Coming to an abrupt halt, awkward twisting while one foot is planted firmly on the ground, landing clumsily after a jump due to sudden deceleration, are the more common causes of ACL injuries, especially in sports that heavily rely on the ACL, such as basketball, football, soccer and skiing. ACL injuries are commonly called “sprain”.
There are several symptoms that indicate the presence of ACL injury; but most especially obvious at the time when the injury occurs is the sound of “popping” in the knee area. In a matter of hours, swelling may be noticed, sometimes an indication that internal bleeding is taking place in the knee area. Agonizing pain is manifested along the outside and back of the knee when weight is imposed on the injured limb resulting in wobbly knees that may “give way” if there is an attempt to stand. ACL injuries can either be tolerably mild or so severe that immediate medical attention is necessary with possible surgery as part of the treatment.
The extent of the damage will dictate what treatment is appropriate in ACL injuries. Mild cases usually respond to immediate first aid by putting the knee at rest, putting ice on the injured area while applying gentle compression and elevating the knee. To ease the pain, a pain reliever may also be prescribed. Brace or crutches will likely be recommended for a certain period to protect the injured ACL during activity, until such time that the swelling and pain show improvement. Physical therapy to help regain joint motion and leg strength may also be advised.
If the ACL is completely torn, however, a more aggressive treatment may be required including surgery to replace the damaged ligament. Extensive physical therapy for a rehabilitation program is usually advised after the surgery. People who have had ACL injuries are able to return to normal activities and even sports activities after they have been treated successfully in a surgical procedure and the consequent rehab program.
Recent findings in some studies show that women are eight to ten times more apt to experience ACL injuries than men. There is no clear explanation to this but experts have identified three areas where differences between men and women may affect the risk of ACL injuries. These are: body structure differences, muscular differences, and laxity and range of motion. The difference in ligament laxity may be due to changing hormone levels.
Some ACL injuries cannot be prevented such as those that occur in vehicular accidents but some can definitely be prevented. Being aware which motions can cause ACL tearing is necessary to prevent such an injury. Basically, landing on the balls of the feet, avoiding sudden deceleration and sudden twisting motions may help avoid ACL injuries. Strengthening the muscles surrounding and supporting the knee area; and warming up and stretching are important because they may reduce the risk of the occurrence of ACL injuries.
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