Do you know: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament.
If you often engage in sports and fitness activities, chances are that you may have experienced an ACL injury or tear too. This is especially true if your sporting activity involves sudden pivoting or cutting maneuvers, such as in football, basketball, or gymnastics.
The ACL is the ligament in the middle of the knee that connects the end of the thigh bone and the top of the shin bone. You can injure your ACL when your knee locks and turns at the same time.
Symptoms of an ACL injury
An ACL injury may be recognised by the following symptoms:
- Feel or hear a pop in the knee
- Severe pain and the inability to continue with the activity
- Rapid swelling
- Loss of range of movement
- Feeling unstable or “giving way” when putting weight on your knee
If you have these signs and symptoms, chances are you have an ACL injury and need to see a doctor. At the clinic, your doctor might perform some movements or motions with your knee and leg. Additionally, imaging tests, including X-rays, a computed tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be needed.
Checking for an ACL tear at home
If you suspect that you have an ACL tear, there are simple ways to check at home to decide if you need to see a doctor.
- Listen for a pop when walking or bending your knee
- Check if your kneecap looks out of place
- Difficulty walking and bending your knee
- Swollen knee
- Pain in the knee
- Difficulty straightening or lifting your leg
Recovering from an ACL injury
Treatment of an ACL injury varies according to the severity of the injury, your age, and your fitness.
You would usually need rehabilitative therapy, where you would perform exercises either at home or at a rehabilitation centre. This is to reduce pain and swelling, restore your knee’s full range of movement, and strengthen your muscles.
Finally, your doctor may recommend surgery to reconstruct your ACL in certain conditions. These include if you’re an athlete and want to continue in your sport, if you have other ligaments or cartilages in your knee that are injured, or if the injury is causing your knee to buckle during everyday activities.
Following surgery, you will need to undergo rigorous rehabilitative therapy to ensure proper recovery. If you are an athlete, it may take as long as a year or more before you can safely return to play.
Schedule a consultation today to take charge of your ACL recovery journey. Early intervention can significantly improve your chances of a full and successful return to your desired activities.
Dr. James Tan offers expert orthopedic care tailored to your needs.
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