What is Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears/ injury?
ACL is one of the important ligaments that stabilizes the knee joint. It is connected from the thigh bone to the shin bone. The ACL is placed in the centre of the knee and provides major stability for the knee. The ACL makes sure that there isn’t excessive anterior translation or rotation of the tibia.
Most often, the ACL is damaged when the foot is planted and someone or something strikes the knee. When there is a sudden stop or sharp turn with the foot planted can also tear the ACL (most commonly seen in contact sports like football). ACL “non-contact” injuries can also, but are rare as compared to contact injuries.
When there is an injury to the ACL, you will feel a giving away sensation of the knee, pain, swelling and a feeling of instability in the knee.
Your physician will evaluate your injury and may then recommend an MRI to see the extend of the injury.
There are a few treatment options with an ACL tear. The treatment options can be determined by the degree of the tear, the age of the person, and the required activity of daily living.
How physical therapy can help you
If the physician decides that the injury can be managed conservatively then the physiotherapy treatment for quadriceps strengthening and proprioception is started simultaneously with rest, icing, compression with a knee brace, and elevation. Then slowly steadily the strengthening and functional exercises are progressed with the goal to return back to activities of daily living.
If your Physician choses an arthroscopic surgery, then a post – surgery protocol is followed for rehabilitation and recovery. It includes proprioception exercises, quadriceps strengthening, restoring range of motion, functional, agility and return to sport programs.