Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

ACL is a tissue that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone, at the knee. ACL injuries occur during certain sports such as basketball, football, skiing, tennis, etc.

SYMPTOMS – Many people hear a pop or feel a “popping” sensation in the knee when an ACL injury occurs, Swelling, Feeling unstable, and Pain while weight bearing.

Depending on the severity of your ACL injury, treatment may include rest and rehabilitation exercises.

Physical Therapy

A proper ACL program/training may help reduce the risk of ACL injury.

1. Acute stage - PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation)should be used in order to reduce swelling and pain.

2. Pre-surgical stage – Passive knee ROM, knee extension, patellar self-mobilization, SLR in prone and in supine, passive knee flexion, knee flexion in prone, knee flexion and extension in sitting, ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, side lying abduction. It is also demonstrated that neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with exercise is more effective.

3. Post-surgical stage– week 1 regular icing elevation, Isometric exercise of quadriceps and hamstring, knee extension, 70-degree flexion at end of the week,

Use a knee brace and crutches, multi-directional mobilization of the patella should be included for at least 8 weeks. Strengthening exercises can be performed supine or prone.

Week 3-4 – Passive ROM of the knee, strengthening exercise, perform sitting using a stationary bicycle or lightweight.

Week 5 - Tonification of the muscle and perform open and close chain exercise