EdhaCare - Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) In India

A tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament is known as an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL).

It is one of your knee’s most important ligaments.

ACL injuries are most common in sports such as soccer, basketball, football, and downhill skiing, which all entail rapid pauses or changes in direction, jumping, and landing. When an ACL damage occurs, many people hear or feel a “pop” in their knee.

It’s also possible that your knee will expand, become unstable, and become too painful to bear any weight.

Treatment may include rest and rehabilitation exercises for a few days to help you restore strength and stability, or surgery to repair the torn ligament followed by rehabilitation, depending on the severity of your ACL damage.

An effective training programme can aid in reducing the risk of ACL injury.

When patients get harmed, they usually hear a popping noise in their knee, which indicates an ACL tear.

It does not, however, happen to everyone.

The following are some of the most prevalent ACL symptoms:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Trouble walking
• Less range of motion

During your first appointment with the doctor, he or she will discuss your symptoms and medical history with you.

The doctor will perform a physical examination, during which he or she will examine all of the structures in your injured knee and compare them to those in your uninjured knee.

A comprehensive physical examination of the knee is required to diagnose most ligament problems.

Other tests, like as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, may be recommended by your doctor to help confirm your diagnosis.

The severity of your ACL injury determines how you should be treated.

Here are some of the alternatives you may be given by your doctor:

First aid

If your injury is minor and not life-threatening, you may only need to apply ice to your knee, raise your leg, and stay off your feet for a while.

Wrapping an ace bandage across your knee will help to reduce swelling.

Crutches might also assist in removing weight from your knee.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory medications will be prescribed by your doctor to assist reduce swelling and pain.

Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter drugs or prescribe a stronger medicine.

Your doctor may inject a steroid medicine into your knee if you’re in a lot of discomfort.

Knee brace

In certain situations, people with a torn ACL can get away with wearing a brace on their knee while running or participating in sports.

It provides further assistance.

Physical therapy

To get your knee back in functioning condition, you’ll need to go to physical therapy for a few days or a week.

You will be instructed to practise exercises to strengthen the muscles around your knee and help you restore a complete range of motion during your sessions.

It’s also possible that you’ll be sent home with some exercises to do on your own.

Surgery: Your doctor will only prescribe surgery if your ACL is severely torn, if your knee gives way when you walk, or if you are an athlete who requires surgery to treat the damaged ligament.

During the procedure, the surgeon will remove the damaged ACL and replace it with tissue to aid in the formation of a new ligament.

People who have had surgery can typically return to sports within a year with the support of physical therapy.

You can resume another course of rehabilitative therapy after you have surgery.

Your knee may typically be stabilised and functioned again after a successful ACL replacement and thorough therapy.

Athletes are not required to return to play within a specific time limit.

According to recent studies, up to one-third of athletes experience another knee tear in the same or opposite knee within two years.

The risk of re-injury may be reduced if the recovery period is extended.

Athletes are usually unable to return to their normal schedule for a year or more.

At various points during your recovery, your doctor and physical therapists will do tests to assess your knee’s strength, function, readiness, and stability to return to sporting activities.

Before returning to your typical activities with a risk of ACL injury, make sure your strength, stability, and movement patterns are maximised.

There are a slew of factors that can raise your chances of tearing your ACL, including:

• Usually in women, muscle strength and hormonal effects play a role.
• Participating in sports such as downhill soccer, skiing football, basketball, and gymnastics
• Inadequate air conditioning
• Putting on shoes that don’t fit properly
• Using any unkempt sports equipment, such as ski bindings that haven’t been correctly adjusted
• Playing an artificial turf surfaces