ACL Injury

What is an ACL injury?

An ACL injury is the tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This is one of the major ligaments in your knee for function and stability.

What Causes an ACL injury?

ACL injuries commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops, jumping, pivoting or changes in direction — such as basketball, soccer, football, tennis, and downhill skiing.

Signs and symptoms of an ACL injury usually include:

• A loud “pop” or a “popping” sensation in the knee
• Severe pain and inability to continue activity
• Swelling that begins within a few hours
• Loss of range of motion
• A feeling of instability or “giving way” when walking

What we do at Acumen for ACL injury:

• A thorough history and evaluation exam will be performed
• Review of any imaging available with you including x-rays and MRI images
• Explain all the treatment options including bracing, rehabilitation and surgical treatments

Treatment Options for ACL injury:

• Physiotherapy to alleviate pain, swelling and regain range of motion and activity. This plan of care may successfully treat an ACL injury for individuals who engage in moderate exercise and recreational activities. Physiotherapy will not heal a torn ligament but many people have success without surgery.
• Surgery, ACL repair or reconstruction- The damaged ligament is either repaired or removed and replaced with a segment of healthy tendon. The replacement tissue is called a graft. The surgeon uses a piece of tendon from another part of your knee or a tendon from a donor called an allograft (whatever the best option for your case may be) for ACL reconstruction.