ACL or anterior cruciate ligament tears occur when the strong band of tissue connecting your shinbone to your thigh bone tears. It might tear partially or entirely. Either way, ACL tears can cause pain, swelling, and the inability to put all of your weight on your knee. Your treatment for an ACL tear depends on the severity of your injury.
Common symptoms associated with ACL injuries include:
Seek treatment at the first sign of a knee ligament injury to reduce the risk of further damage and recover as quickly as possible.
ACL tears can happen to anyone, but some things increase your risk of experiencing them. Examples include:
Injury prevention includes wearing the correct footwear and proper sports training for strength, flexibility, agility, and balance.
To determine if you have an ACL tear and develop an effective treatment, your orthopedic specialist reviews your medical history and symptoms. Then, they evaluate your knee joint and might ask you to move your leg into various positions if you can.
X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds help your specialist to determine the root cause of your knee pain.
Depending on the severity of your ACL tear, your orthopedic provider might suggest one of the following treatments:
RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) therapy can reduce pain and inflammation after sustaining an ACL injury. You might wear a knee brace while your injury heals.
Your therapist teaches you exercises that strengthen tissues in your knee joint and reduce the risk of future injuries. You might complete physical therapy instead of surgery or after ACL reconstruction surgery.
Surgery is sometimes the best treatment for repairing your ACL to fully restore knee joint function. Your surgeon removes the damaged part of an ACL ligament and replaces it with another type of tissue, such as a tendon. Complete recovery may take as long as a year.
If you have an ACL injury, call the Colorado Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics office or schedule an appointment online today.
