A wrong twist whilst playing football, an awkward landing after a jump or suddenly coming to a halt whilst exercising. It can cause your knee to suddenly start hurting badly. Have you torn your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)? If so, you’re probably wondering what this means for your recovery and whether you’ll eventually be able to play sport again. A torn ACL can make your knee feel less stable. However, this injury doesn’t automatically mean you have to stop playing sport. In this blog, you’ll find out how an anterior cruciate ligament injury occurs, what symptoms you might experience and how to work towards your recovery.
How do you tear your anterior cruciate ligament?
The anterior cruciate ligament is located in the centre of the knee and helps to keep the knee joint stable. Among other things, the ligament ensures that your lower leg does not move too far forwards.
According to Home doctor.co.uk The anterior cruciate ligament can tear as a result of an incorrect twisting movement of the knee. This often happens during sport, for example when playing football or skiing. A hard landing after a jump can also cause damage to the cruciate ligament. Often, the person feels or hears a snap at the moment of the injury. Afterwards, the knee may be painful, become swollen within a few hours and feel less stable. Sometimes this makes it easier for your knee to give way.
How can you tell if you’ve torn your anterior cruciate ligament?
Symptoms vary from person to person. Some people are still able to stand on their leg shortly after the injury, whilst others find it difficult to walk straight away. It is therefore not possible to determine whether you have torn your anterior cruciate ligament based on pain alone.
Symptoms that may occur include:
- A knee that swells up within a few hours
- Difficulty bending or straightening the knee fully
- The sensation that the knee is unstable or gives way
- Problems when turning, jumping or changing direction quickly
A physiotherapist or doctor can examine the knee. Sometimes further tests, such as an MRI scan, are needed to assess which structures in the knee are damaged.
Can you start exercising again if you’ve torn your anterior cruciate ligament?
A torn anterior cruciate ligament does not automatically mean that surgery is necessary. The most appropriate treatment depends, amongst other things, on your age, daily activities, any other damage to the knee, and the sport you wish to resume.
For some people, a comprehensive exercise programme may be enough to restore strength and stability to the knee. In other cases, surgery to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament may be considered.
Returning to sport takes time. Particularly in sports involving a lot of twisting, jumping and rapid changes of direction, the knee must regain sufficient strength and stability. The point at which you can resume sport therefore varies from person to person. It is not just the time elapsed since the injury that is important. Your strength, control and confidence in your knee also play a key role.
How can physiotherapy help if you’ve torn your anterior cruciate ligament?
Physiotherapy plays an important role in the recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. This applies both to people who recover without surgery and to those who undergo cruciate ligament surgery.
Among other things, the physiotherapist will assess your knee’s range of motion, muscle strength, stability and movement patterns. You will then work step by step on strengthening your knee and the muscles surrounding it. As your recovery progresses, the exercises will be gradually intensified.
Do you want to get back into sport eventually? If so, movements such as running, jumping, landing and changing direction can also form part of your training.
The aim is to enable you to put as much weight on your knee as possible and to regain your confidence when moving.
Have you torn your anterior cruciate ligament, or do you want to start exercising again safely following a cruciate ligament injury?
Then feel free to take contact with us at 085-5000333 or send an e-mail to info@friskfysio.nl. Our physiotherapists will assess your situation with you and guide you step by step through your recovery.
