ACL Injury Symptoms| Causes | Rehabilitation | Surgery
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| Complete tear of ACL |
- Overview
- Symtoms
- Causes of ACL Injuries
- Treatment
ACL Injury Symptoms| Causes | Rehabilitation | Surgery
Overview
ACL injury is one of the most
common types of knee conditions.
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is very essential for stabilizing the knee joint and controlling the forward motion of the tibia in relation to the femur.
Injuries to this ligament can be either strains (Overstretched) or tears.
The ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is very essential for stabilizing the knee joint and controlling the forward motion of the tibia in relation to the femur.
Injuries to this ligament can be either strains (Overstretched) or tears.
Injuries
of the ACL can occur due to sudden sharp turns or twists of the knee while
running or jumping.
Patients who suffer from this injury have pain as well difficulty to do some tasks that involve the full range of motion of the knee especially with extra pressure on it, say, when squatting down to sit on the floor or going through the stairs.
Patients who suffer from this injury have pain as well difficulty to do some tasks that involve the full range of motion of the knee especially with extra pressure on it, say, when squatting down to sit on the floor or going through the stairs.
Symptoms
A popping
noise might be heard the moment the ACL is torn.
Patients who either overstretched or torn their Anterior Cruciate Ligament experience (Varied levels) of pain when performing daily activities involving knee movement.
Swelling and difficulty fully extend the knee may also be experienced.
Since the ACL function as to control the forward motion of the shin bone, walking can be difficult as well especially in severe cases.
Moreover walking can be even more difficult with added weight; be it body weight due to obesity or even the groceries that you carry in everyday life.
Patients who either overstretched or torn their Anterior Cruciate Ligament experience (Varied levels) of pain when performing daily activities involving knee movement.
Swelling and difficulty fully extend the knee may also be experienced.
Since the ACL function as to control the forward motion of the shin bone, walking can be difficult as well especially in severe cases.
Moreover walking can be even more difficult with added weight; be it body weight due to obesity or even the groceries that you carry in everyday life.
Causes of ACL Injuries
ACL injuries tend to happen
as a result of sudden shocks to the knee joint especially from the side.
This can be sudden sharp stops and turns and quick maneuvers (As in rugby, football, basketball, tennis, etc.) or awkward landing that involves a twist in the knee (As in Gymnastics).
However, more than 90% of the people who work out are not athletes but still develop ACL injuries because of poor technique, such as squatting with knees going inwards.
This can be sudden sharp stops and turns and quick maneuvers (As in rugby, football, basketball, tennis, etc.) or awkward landing that involves a twist in the knee (As in Gymnastics).
However, more than 90% of the people who work out are not athletes but still develop ACL injuries because of poor technique, such as squatting with knees going inwards.
Women are more prone to ACL
injuries than men.
It has been suggested that this is due to the different body composition and conditioning in men and women; women has less muscle conditioning and strength around their knees as compared to men.
Also, the ligament composition itself is different; being laxer and more affected by estrogen in women than in men.
It has been suggested that this is due to the different body composition and conditioning in men and women; women has less muscle conditioning and strength around their knees as compared to men.
Also, the ligament composition itself is different; being laxer and more affected by estrogen in women than in men.
Diagnosis
The first step of diagnosis
involves talking to the patient about the history of how the injury took
place.
Then, physical examination is performed by moving the knee joint into extension and flexion with a twist to test stability and determine painful positions.
Then, physical examination is performed by moving the knee joint into extension and flexion with a twist to test stability and determine painful positions.
The physical examination is
often not enough to determine what type of ACL injury the patient has; whether
grade 1 sprains (Overstretched), grade 2 sprains (Partial tear) or grade 3
sprains (Complete tear).
In this case, the specialist may need an X-ray to examine the bones for any breakage, or an MRI to detect any injuries to the ligaments.
In this case, the specialist may need an X-ray to examine the bones for any breakage, or an MRI to detect any injuries to the ligaments.
Treatment
Treatment of ACL injuries can
be determined according to the severity of the condition.
Most grade 1 and grade 2 sprains can be cured by rehabilitation; however, in case of a complete tear (Grade 3 sprains) a surgery is required.
Most grade 1 and grade 2 sprains can be cured by rehabilitation; however, in case of a complete tear (Grade 3 sprains) a surgery is required.
1. Rehab
Rehabilitation after an ACL
injury is a requirement in order to regain flexibility and strength of the
muscles around the knee.
Depending on how severe the injury is, the rehab program designed by a physical therapist will help the patient recover in somewhere between a couple of months and a year.
Depending on how severe the injury is, the rehab program designed by a physical therapist will help the patient recover in somewhere between a couple of months and a year.
Choosing not to follow a rehab
program after an ACL injury; no matter how minor it is, may result in
complications and other knee injuries in the future.
However, being dedicated to the program will quicken the recovery process.
However, being dedicated to the program will quicken the recovery process.
Along with taking
over-the-counter pain killers, having supplementation for faster ligament
repair, and being careful with the range of motion that is safe for you (Not
applying further stress or strain on your knee), exercising the muscles around
your knee is crucial for helping your ACL recover.
Restraining from training
legs for good makes the muscles around your knee (Quadriceps and hamstrings)
weak; therefore, shifting the stress that comes from stabilizing the leg and
carry the body weigh fall down completely on the injured ligament.
Doing strengthening exercises
like the box squat or Bulgarian split squats (Putting light weights) with a
bent in the knee not exceeding 90 degrees are great exercises if they don’t
cause you any pain.
If pain is experienced, however, other treatments prescribed from your doctor or even surgery can be more convenient for your condition.
If pain is experienced, however, other treatments prescribed from your doctor or even surgery can be more convenient for your condition.
2. Surgery
If a diagnosis says that the ACL
is so badly damaged that the knee gives way when walking and a chronic pain is
experienced, then surgery is the perfect choice.
A surgeon removes the torn ACL and usually replaces it with a tissue from your own body.
An instance of this can be cutting off a band from the patellar tendon and let it grow in the place of the damaged ACL.
A surgeon removes the torn ACL and usually replaces it with a tissue from your own body.
An instance of this can be cutting off a band from the patellar tendon and let it grow in the place of the damaged ACL.
After surgery, the patient is
advised not to exert any pressure on the knee until it fully recovers.
When the rest period is over the ligaments will be tight and lose their flexibility whereas the muscles around the knee lose strength.
This is the time when a rehab program is required in order to regain flexibility of the knee joint and also to strengthen the weak muscles.
When the rest period is over the ligaments will be tight and lose their flexibility whereas the muscles around the knee lose strength.
This is the time when a rehab program is required in order to regain flexibility of the knee joint and also to strengthen the weak muscles.
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