ACL tear symptoms
Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Sravya, MBBS, MS
Introduction
One of the four primary ligaments—tough bands of tissue—the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is in charge of protecting the integrity of your knee joint. It not only offers stability but also makes it easier to control different knee movements. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and this ligament, which attaches your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia), allow your knee to move forward and backward.
When the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a strong fibrous tissue connecting your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia), is damaged or strained, it is referred to as an ACL injury. These accidents frequently occur in sports that include sudden stops, direction changes, and acts involving jumping and landing. Soccer, basketball, football, and downhill skiing are a few of these sports.
A considerable majority of people who have had an ACL tear describe hearing or feeling a “popping” sound in their knee. This frequently causes the knees to swell, feel unstable, and experience excruciating discomfort that makes it impossible to hold any weight.
ACL injuries are divided into three severity categories, with Grade 1 being the least serious. A Grade 2 injury happens when the ACL is partially torn after being stretched beyond its normal range. Grade 3 denotes the ligament’s total rupture. People who participate in particular sports have a higher risk of suffering an ACL sprain or tear. Sports with frequent abrupt changes in direction, such as football, basketball, and soccer, are more prone to result in an ACL injury. ACL injuries can also happen as a result of direct knee contact.
Your ACL injury’s severity will dictate how it is treated. Rest periods and rehabilitation activities to regain strength and stability may be necessary. If the injury is bad enough to require surgery to replace the torn ligament, a rehabilitation strategy is then necessary. Participating in a structured exercise programmer can help to reduce the chance of suffering an ACL injury.
Acl tear symptoms
The signs of an ACL damage typically include:
- An audible pop that is audible or feels like a "pop" inside the knee.
- Severe discomfort that prevents further exercise.
- Rapid and notable swelling.
- Affected knee's decreased range of motion.
- A feeling of unsteadiness or a propensity to "give way" under pressure.
It’s critical to get quick medical help if you have any indications of an ACL injury as a result of a knee injury. The complex interaction of bones, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues that makes up the knee joint allows it to move. A quick and accurate diagnosis is necessary for determining the injury’s severity and determining the best course of therapy.
ACL injury symptoms
Ligaments act as tenacious connective tissues connecting two bones. The ACL, one of the two primary ligaments in the knee, connects the femur and tibia and gives the knee joint stability.
The following sports and physical activities are known to increase the risk of developing an ACL injury:
- Sudden braking and direction changes (cutting).
- Stubbornly placing the foot while pivoting.
- Uncomfortable landings after a leap.
- Unexpected stops in motion.
- Direct collisions or impacts, such as those in football tackles.
Damage to the ACL frequently causes a partial or total tear of the ligament tissue. In less serious cases, the injury could cause a ligament to extend while largely keeping it intact.
Risk Factors
There are a number of things that can make you more vulnerable to suffering an ACL injury, including:
- Gender due to possible anatomical differences, differences in muscular strength, and hormonal influences, particularly in females.
- Playing Particular Sports: Playing sports that frequently put strain on the knees and require quick movements, such as downhill skiing, gymnastics, basketball, football and soccer.
- Inadequate Physical Conditioning: A lower level of muscular strength and fitness can increase the risk of injury.
- Erroneous Movement Patterns Incorrect technique use, such as squats with an inside knee movement, can make you more vulnerable.
- Unsuitable Footwear: The stability of the knee might be hampered by wearing improperly fitting shoes.
- Inadequate Equipment Maintenance: Sports gear, such as incorrectly fitted ski bindings, can increase the risk of injury.
- Playing on Artificial Turf: Due to their impact-absorbing characteristics, some playing surfaces, such as artificial turf, may increase the risk of ACL injury.
The increased risk of ACL injuries in female athletes may be reduced by developing leg, hip, and core strength, as well as leaping and landing techniques and avoiding knee inward movement.
Potential Repercussions
People who suffer an ACL tear are more likely to develop osteoarthritis in the knee that is injured. Even when surgical intervention is sought after for ligament restoration, this risk still exists.
The degree of the initial injury, the presence of concurrent injuries inside the knee joint, and the level of physical activity after treatment are all likely to have an impact on the likelihood of developing arthritis.
Prevention Techniques
The risk of ACL injuries can be decreased with appropriate training and exercise. A valuable assessment, recommendations, and feedback can be obtained by seeing a sports medicine physician, physical therapist, athletic trainer, or other sports medicine specialist to lower risk. Programmes for preventing ACL injuries include:
- Exercises to Strengthen Your Core These workouts concentrate on the hips, pelvis, and lower abdomen and are designed to teach athletes how to squat without inward knee movement.
- Exercises to Strengthen Leg Muscles These exercises encourage an even distribution of strength in the leg muscles, with a particular emphasis on hamstring workouts.
- Knee placement during leaps and the landing phase should be correct, and this is emphasised in training and exercise regimens.
- Technique refinement for pivoting and cutting movements: specialised training to enhance the execution of these movements while lowering the risk of ACL damage.
The increased risk of ACL injuries in female athletes may be reduced by developing leg, hip, and core strength, as well as leaping and landing techniques and avoiding knee inward movement.
Equipment
Injury prevention depends on choosing the right protective gear and footwear for your sport. To ensure effective ski release in the event of a fall during downhill skiing, make sure a qualified specialist fixes your ski bindings properly. It’s important to note that using a knee brace does not appear to be helpful in preventing initial ACL injuries or lowering the risk of reinjury after surgical intervention.
Some people experience partial ACL tears, which fall under the category of intermediate injuries. According to studies, this partial tear type of ACL injury makes up between 10 to 27 percent of all ACL injuries. In certain situations, the ACL may stretch or become loose, or one of the two bundles that make up the ACL may tear. Even if it’s only a partial damage, it will probably still hurt and result in edoema. This kind of injury can result in varying degrees of knee joint instability.
Surgery is frequently necessary to treat ACL tears and restore your knee’s stability and functionality. Many times, doctors will choose arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that can hasten your recuperation. Physical therapy could be used after the treatment to help you regain strength and complete range of motion. Your treatment plan for a mild injury would likely include resting, elevating your leg, and applying ice to minimize swelling and ease pain. A knee brace may also be required to temporarily steady you.