| Not so long ago twin sisters aged fifteen years of | | | | lot on the severity of the injury. An x-ray followed |
| age in the same sport at the same game injured | | | | by a MRI may be required to fully assess the |
| their ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in their knee. | | | | damage and give the best course of what is needed |
| One did the left knee the other her right. An ACL | | | | to sort out the injury surgically. This operation |
| injury causes the recipient to be restrictive when it | | | | consists of cartilage (ligament) replacement; grafting |
| comes to any side way movement, in others words | | | | mainly from your hamstrings does this and the new |
| you cannot side shuffle, change direction quickly, step | | | | ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is fastening to the |
| to either side and also you cannot weight bare. ACL | | | | femur (thigh bone) and the fibula (lower leg) by |
| damage is one of the most common knee injuries | | | | staples or screws. |
| equated to running, jumping and contact sports for | | | | What is the next step after surgery? |
| males or females. These particular twins were playing | | | | Rest period of around two weeks keeping leg |
| the sport of choice netball, which has a lot of stop | | | | elevated, also at the same time try to slowly weight |
| start movements as well as plenty of jumping and | | | | bare with the use of crutches when going to the |
| running and the occasional contact. | | | | bath or moving around, remembering to only do |
| So with this journey into the unknown of a ACL | | | | what you can depending on how much pain you can |
| injury we had plenty of questions that needed | | | | tolerate. The main reason for this is to get the |
| answers, so we could get to the end with the | | | | walking movements back, because the surgery would |
| correct results. | | | | have caused your knee to cease up. Once you and |
| What can cause this injury? | | | | your physio are confident in your progress rehab in |
| The surgeon explained that an ACL knee injury | | | | the gym can start. |
| happens due to incorrect weight allocation to the | | | | What does the physio offer? |
| knee area from down would force of your bodies | | | | Firstly you get an expert in the field of Anatomy and |
| movements. For example being tackled in a rugby | | | | physiology that means they have the best |
| game and being pushed back in a kneeling position | | | | knowledge of what the human body can and cannot |
| backwards with your thigh area going the wrong | | | | do. They will put you through the right program for |
| direction to your knee and lower leg. Side stepping | | | | your knee recovery, explaining why you must do |
| with the wrong weight distribution. Also playing netball | | | | certain exercises for your rehab. They also have the |
| and when landing after jumping having your weight | | | | ability to tell if you are not doing your program to the |
| go the wrong way you want causing you to twist | | | | best of your capability. The physio is your ticket to a |
| your knee. Being over weight and trying to train again | | | | speedy recovery, but only if you have the |
| with not enough support from your thigh, calf and | | | | commitment and determination to do the work. |
| hamstrings to your knee. | | | | When can one go back to physical activities? |
| How could this been prevented? | | | | Once you have done all the work required and the |
| Preventative measures for this injury means having | | | | physio is happy with the progress, only then can he |
| to build up and strengthen the muscles in your quad | | | | determine whether or not you are ready for that big |
| (thigh), calf and hamstrings. By incorporating exercises | | | | step back into physical activity. Some of the factors |
| to suit these muscle parts you will have an excellent | | | | may be that your muscle development from surgery |
| chance of non-injury in that area. Also technique is a | | | | has finally improved to a state where you can now |
| vital ingredient to support this, executing the correct | | | | begin to train and exercise more frequently. Also that |
| movements with the right about of force will lessen | | | | you are able to increase your work load in your |
| the risk of injury. | | | | sessions, like weight training-lifting more, running |
| Take a look at the top sprinters in the world, look at | | | | longer and more importantly have less uncomfortable |
| the development of their quads, calves and hamstring | | | | pain from you injury. Lastly the fact that your visits |
| areas, they are unbelievable, but this is why they can | | | | with your physio have gone from everyday to one |
| run at super human speeds. They have | | | | visit a week shows him you are do the work not |
| bi-o-mechanically changed their body shape to cope | | | | just with him, but also at home. |
| with the G-forces they put out when they run. | | | | So these are just some of the questions you may |
| How do you treat this injury? | | | | want to ask your surgeon and physiotherapist if you |
| According to the surgeon the treatment depends a | | | | are ever in this situation requiring an ACL knee injury. |