| Whether you are a fan of football, baseball, | | | | movements that correspond with the patient's |
| basketball, or any other recreational activity you have | | | | everyday needs. |
| at one time or another heard of an ACL injury. | | | | It is wise to follow the acronym PRICE during the |
| Maybe your favorite athlete was sidelined for months | | | | early stages of recovery from an ACL tear. PRICE |
| with a tear to their ACL, or possibly it was you that | | | | stands for protection, rest, ice, compression, and |
| had to watch from the sidelines for a few months. | | | | elevation. By following these five steps each day a |
| The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is in fact a | | | | patient will effectively decrease their pain and swelling |
| common major injury to the knee. Luckily for us with | | | | and better prepare their joint for the recovery |
| a good surgeon and physical therapist, an ACL injury | | | | process. About one or two weeks following surgery |
| is not career threatening. Read more about ACL | | | | the patient will begin physical therapy. The physical |
| injuries and what to expect during the rehab process. | | | | therapist will perform an initial evaluation consisting of |
| Anatomy of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) | | | | background questions, and visual and physical |
| Each one of our knees contains a number of | | | | inspection of the knee itself. With this information a |
| ligaments that help stabilize its movements. Of the | | | | physical therapist will develop a detailed plan specific |
| four major ligaments contained within the knee | | | | to each patient's rehabilitation needs. |
| capsule, the ACL is considered by many to be the | | | | Rehabilitation Timetable & Expectations |
| most important because it provides the majority of | | | | As with any injury the expected time of recovery is |
| the knee's stability. The ACL's main objective is to | | | | based on numerous factors, such as: age, extent of |
| stabilize the knee during planting and twisting motions, | | | | injury, success and type of surgery, work ethic |
| as well as prevent forward movement of the lower | | | | during rehab, physical therapist technique and care to |
| leg from the upper leg. It is able to do this by | | | | detail, and overall health and fitness of the patient. An |
| attaching to our upper leg at the front of the femur | | | | average patient, who had a traditional ACL surgery, |
| and crosses the knee to attach to the lower leg at | | | | will begin light jogging about four months |
| the back of the tibia. When an injury to the ACL | | | | post-surgery with full strength and mobility not being |
| occurs it is either a partial or full tear of the ligament. | | | | full restored until about six to nine months after |
| The joint responds as it would to any other soft | | | | surgery. Most doctors will advise a patient to not |
| tissue injury by swelling. Some people hear a pop | | | | return to more aggressive physical activities until their |
| while others just notice an extreme lack of stability | | | | recovering leg has gained at least 90% of the |
| and a sense of the knee giving out when weight is | | | | strength of the healthy leg. There are more |
| shifted on to that leg. Depending on the extent of | | | | advanced surgeries that can put an athlete on the |
| the injury a patient may or may not have surgery to | | | | playing field in about six months. This option is |
| repair a partial tear of the ACL. As previously | | | | intended for serious athletes only and a physician |
| mentioned it is not just athletes that experience | | | | should be consulted before investigating this |
| tears of their ACL. Women tend to be more prone | | | | alternative. |
| to an ACL injury, an unfortunate problem attributed | | | | Any type of major injury can be a setback in an |
| to a number of factors. Anatomical factors that can | | | | athletic career, or quite a struggle to deal with in |
| contribute to one's likelihood of injury include: strength | | | | day-to-day life, and an ACL tear is no different. |
| imbalances between the hamstrings and quadriceps, | | | | Surgery and rehabilitation techniques are improving |
| joint laxity, and a large Q-angle. | | | | each day and are therefore making the recovery |
| Typical Rehabilitation Actions | | | | from such an injury less painful. A patient who is |
| Surgical and non-surgical rehabilitation protocols are | | | | dedicated to their complete recovery will have a |
| very similar, if not the same in many cases. Once the | | | | much better experience throughout the process and |
| surgical wounds have healed a patient will then | | | | give themselves a great opportunity to continue their |
| schedule their first appointment with a physical | | | | life, be it as an athlete or not. |
| therapist. The physical therapist will develop a plan of | | | | Robert Tendick is a student preparing himself to earn |
| action for the patient's treatment. The most | | | | a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Through his degree in |
| important objective early on is to reduce swelling and | | | | Kinesiology and experiences as an athlete, Robert has |
| work to prevent scar tissue buildup. The next | | | | become familiar with injuries to the ACL and common |
| objective is to regain full range of motion, while | | | | expectations for ACL surgery recovery. He has also |
| simultaneously strengthening the muscles that | | | | had the opportunity as a physical therapy aide to |
| support the knee joint. With full of range of motion | | | | help heal a number of West Los Angeles physical |
| and increasing strengths, eventually a physical | | | | therapy patients through the use of cutting edge |
| therapist will finish their rehab treatment with a phase | | | | injury rehabilitation techniques. |
| of neuromuscular control activities and functional | | | | |