| An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Knee Injury | | | | head on, or from the side, their knee joint, this can |
| Introduction : The ACL, otherwise known as your | | | | also cause an ACL injury to happen. - Just like any |
| anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is one of the most | | | | other part of your body, the ACL becomes less |
| important ligaments in your knee joint area. It joins | | | | strong as we grow older. A tear is more likely to |
| your thigh bone (femur) to your lower leg bone | | | | happen in an individual that is 40 and older vs |
| (tibia). The ACL is very important for helping to keep | | | | someone in a younger age group. |
| your knee stable. | | | | Symptoms of an ACL Injury |
| Injuries & Treatment | | | | 1.) If you "feel" or "hear" a popping sound at the time |
| Injuries to your ACL can range from a small tear, | | | | the injury happened. |
| which is usually considered to be a mild injury, to a | | | | 2.) Pain that is located at the outside, or back of the |
| complete tear of the ligament (considered severe). If | | | | knee. |
| you do not treat your injury, you can often times | | | | 3.) Knee swelling, and the feel like your knee might |
| feel like you are less able to control your knee | | | | give out from underneath you. |
| movement, and your stability will be weakened. | | | | Knee Braces For Support |
| Sometimes the bone can actually rub on bone and | | | | Do not underestimate the use of a well designed |
| this can be referred to as "chronic ACL deficiency". | | | | knee brace. These supports can do a lot in helping to |
| This grinding of the bones can unfortunately cause | | | | prevent ACL injuries, or they can provide meaningful |
| damage to the cartilage that is found covering the | | | | support to your knee after an injury happens. When |
| ends of your bones. This can lead to OA (otherwise | | | | you hurt your ACL your instability might be at an all |
| known as osteoarthritis). | | | | time high, and these kinds of braces can really come |
| How Does An ACL injury Happen? | | | | in handy. |
| Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be injured | | | | If you feel like you have injured your ACL, it is |
| in a few different ways. It can happen when your | | | | important to consult with your physician regarding |
| knee joint is forced backward, or it twists. There is | | | | medical advice. This is helpful health information, but it |
| an increased chance of this type of injury when you | | | | does not mean you should neglect seeing your |
| combine these movements. When a person is hit | | | | doctor. |