| In the world of sports we often hear about knee | | | | surrounding muscles, as well as re-training the muscles |
| injuries that derail at least an athlete's season, if not | | | | to achieve optimum neuromuscular control. Obviously |
| career. The most common major knee injury seen | | | | toward the beginning activities will focus on |
| amongst athletes is a tear of the Anterior Cruciate | | | | decreasing swelling, while toward the end of rehab |
| Ligament, or more commonly known as the ACL. | | | | the physical therapist will focus their patient's |
| However, it is not just athletes that are experiencing | | | | strengthening on functional motions. |
| troubles with their ACL; many people are injuring their | | | | It is wise to follow the acronym PRICE during the |
| ACL performing everyday activities. Luckily for us | | | | early stages of recovery from an ACL tear. PRICE |
| there have been a number of advancements in the | | | | stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and |
| surgical treatment and rehabilitation of an Anterior | | | | elevation. By following these five steps each day a |
| Cruciate Ligament so that it is no longer a career | | | | patient will effectively decrease their pain and swelling |
| threatening injury, for athletes and non-athletes alike. | | | | and better prepare their joint for the recovery |
| Anatomy of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) | | | | process. About one or two weeks following surgery |
| Each one of our knees contains a number of | | | | the patient will begin physical therapy. The physical |
| ligaments that help stabilize its movements. Of the | | | | therapist will perform an initial evaluation consisting of |
| four major ligaments contained within the knee | | | | background questions, and visual and physical |
| capsule, the ACL is considered by many to be the | | | | inspection of the knee itself. With this information a |
| most important because it provides the majority of | | | | physical therapist will develop a detailed plan specific |
| the knee's stability. The ACL's main objective is to | | | | to each patient's rehabilitation needs. |
| stabilize the knee during planting and twisting motions, | | | | Rehabilitation Timetable & Expectations |
| as well as prevent forward movement of the lower | | | | As with any injury the expected time of recovery is |
| leg from the upper leg. It is able to do this by | | | | based on numerous factors, such as: age, extent of |
| attaching to our upper leg at the front of the femur | | | | injury, success and type of surgery, work ethic |
| and crosses the knee to attach to the lower leg at | | | | during rehab, physical therapist technique and care to |
| the back of the tibia. When an injury to the ACL | | | | detail, and overall health and fitness of the patient. An |
| occurs it is either a partial or full tear of the ligament. | | | | average patient, who had a traditional ACL surgery, |
| The joint responds as it would to any other soft | | | | will begin light jogging about four months |
| tissue injury by swelling. Some people hear a pop | | | | post-surgery with full strength and mobility not being |
| while others just notice an extreme lack of stability | | | | full restored until about six to nine months after |
| and a sense of the knee giving out when weight is | | | | surgery. Most doctors will advise a patient to not |
| shifted on to that leg. Depending on the extent of | | | | return to more aggressive physical activities until their |
| the injury a patient may or may not have surgery to | | | | recovering leg has gained at least 90% of the |
| repair a partial tear of the ACL. As previously | | | | strength of the healthy leg. There are more |
| mentioned it is not just athletes that experience | | | | advanced surgeries that can put an athlete on the |
| tears of their ACL. Women tend to be more prone | | | | playing field in about six months. This option is |
| to an ACL injury, an unfortunate problem attributed | | | | intended for serious athletes only and a physician |
| to a number of factors. Anatomical factors that can | | | | should be consulted before investigating this |
| contribute to one's likelihood of injury include: strength | | | | alternative. |
| imbalances between the hamstrings and quadriceps, | | | | Any type of major injury can be a setback in an |
| joint laxity, and a large Q-angle. | | | | athletic career, or quite a struggle to deal with in |
| Common Methods of Rehabilitation | | | | day-to-day life, and an ACL tear is no different. |
| Whether or not a patient decides to have their ACL | | | | Surgery and rehabilitation techniques are improving |
| injury repaired surgically or not usually does not | | | | each day and are therefore making the recovery |
| affect the plan of action for rehabilitation. Before a | | | | from such an injury less painful. A patient who is |
| physical therapist is seen, the wounds must heal. | | | | dedicated to their complete recovery will have a |
| Following that stage a good physical therapist will | | | | much better experience throughout the process and |
| focus on reducing swelling, increasing and regaining full | | | | give themselves a great opportunity to continue their |
| range of motion, strengthening the joint and | | | | life, be it as an athlete or not. |