ACL Injuries

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments of the knee that provide stability to the knee joint and prevent the bones of the upper and lower leg from moving out of alignment. While damage to the ACL is often associated with non-contact sports such as soccer, volleyball and alpine skiing, the ACL can also be damaged during many activities of daily living such as descending stairs, falling off of ladders or landing incorrectly from a jump.

Women are typically at higher risk than men for ACL injuries due to anatomic, hormonal and biomechanical differences. Wider hips and the Q-angle, or angle of the thigh bone as it meets the lower leg results in added stress on the ACL. Many women also have narrow or unusually shaped intercondylar notches that pinch the ACL as it passes over the bones of the knee joint. Higher levels of estrogen in women (especially during their menstrual cycle) have been associated with more elasticity in connective tissue, making the ACL more prone to injury. Compared to men, women often have less quadriceps and hamstring strength. As a result, women often put more stress on the tendons of the knee, causing strain to the ACL as it attempts to stabilize the lower leg.

People who injure their ACL often complain of a loud popping sound or their knee giving out on them. The injury can cause pain, swelling and difficulty flexing or extending the knee joint. Injury to the ACL often results in a partial tear of the ligament. In more serious cases, it can be completely torn or avulsed from the bone.

If you suspect that you’ve injured your ACL, it’s important to have your knee evaluated by a physician or physical therapist. Using a stability examination, x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) they will be able to determine the extent of your injury.

Physical Therapy is essential to achieving a full recovery and can guide your rehabilitation to assure you return to 100% as quickly and safely as possible. Initial therapy will focus on decreasing pain and swelling while at the same time increasing range of motion. In later stages the focus of therapy will turn toward resuming neuromuscular control, strength, balance, and proprioception. The final phases of rehabilitation are focused on resuming normal activity and sports.

For more information regarding ACL injuries email info@proaxistherapy.com. To make an appointment for therapy, please call Proaxis Therapy at (864) 454-0904.