Anterior Cruciate Injury Treatment Information

An anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, the injury is aThe symptoms of a serious ACL injury include
tear in a knee ligament, which joins the upper legauditory sensation or a pop in the knee at the time
bone lower leg with the bone. The ACL is one of theof the accident, the pain on the outside and at the
main ligaments of the knee, connecting the thighrear of knee pain on the outside and at the rear of
bone (femur) to the tibia. The ACL extendedknee and knee wobbling, buckling, or giving. An ACL
superiorly tibia, lateral, and posterior to the inclusioninjury should be treated with a splint, ice, elevation of
on the posterior surface of the median of the sidethe joint , and pain relievers such as nonsteroidal
femoral condyle. Women are seven times more likelyanti-inflammatory drugs. The goal of
to suffer an ACL injury than their men. The reasonspharmacotherapy is to reduce morbidity. Other things
are complex. In women angle Q (quadriceps) is higheryou can do that may help prevent ACL injuries
and it tends to pull the kneecap (patella) on the side.include avoid running downhill unless you are fully
Women are more flexible knee.conditioned ,avoid wearing shoes with cleats in
Their hamstring muscles are generally weaker thancontact sports and avoid wearing high-heeled shoes.
their quadriceps, which adds stress to the joint. ACLAnterior Cruciate Injury Treatment and Prevention
injuries occur most commonly in individuals aged 14-29Tips
years. These years correspond to a high degree of1. Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes.
athletic activity. ACL injuries most often result from2. Avoid wearing shoes with cleats in contact sports.
sports where the foot is planted on the ground while3. Use proper techniques when playing sports or
the leg is being twisted. The ACL may also becomeexercising.
injured when the knee is straightened further than it4. Cadaveric grafts may also be used to reconstruct
normal (hyperextended). It can also occur when thethe ACL.
thigh bone is forcefully pushed across the shin bone.5. Physical therapy may help regain joint motion and
The main symptom of chronic ACL deficiency is theleg strength.
knee buckling or giving out, sometimes with pain and6. Take over-the-counter pain medicine like
swelling.nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin.