Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Information

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is probably the most commonly injured ligament of the knee. An anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, the injury is a tear in a knee ligament, which joins the upper leg bone lower leg with the bone. The ACL is one of the main ligaments of the knee, connecting the thigh bone (femur) to the tibia. The ACL extended superiorly tibia, lateral, and posterior to the inclusion on the posterior surface of the median of the side femoral condyle. Women are seven times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than their men. The reasons are complex. In women angle Q (quadriceps) is higher and it tends to pull the kneecap (patella) on the side. Women are more flexible knee.

Causes

Your ACL can be injured if your knee joint is bent backward, twisted, or bent side to side. The chance of injury is higher if more than one of these movements occurs at the same time. Contact (being hit by another person or object) also can cause an ACL injury.

An ACL injury often occurs during sports. The injury can happen when your foot is firmly planted on the ground and a sudden force hits your knee while your leg is straight or slightly bent. This can happen when you are changing direction rapidly, slowing down when running, or landing from a jump.

Their hamstring muscles are generally weaker than their quadriceps, which adds stress to the joint. ACL injuries occur most commonly in individuals aged 14-29 years. These years correspond to a high degree of athletic activity. ACL injuries most often result from sports where the foot is planted on the ground while the leg is being twisted. The ACL may also become injured when the knee is straightened further than it normal (hyperextended). It can also occur when the thigh bone is forcefully pushed across the shin bone. The main symptom of chronic ACL deficiency is the knee buckling or giving out, sometimes with pain and swelling.

The symptoms of a serious ACL

# There may be an audible pop or crack at the time of injury
# Feeling of initial instability, may be masked later by extensive swelling
# This injury is extremely painful, in particular immediately after sustaining the injury
# Swelling of the knee- usually immediate and extensive, but can be minimal or delayed

Treatment

Initial treatment for an ACL injury focuses on decreasing pain and swelling in the knee. Rest and mild pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), can help decrease these symptoms. You may need to use crutches until you can walk without a limp. Most patients are instructed to put a normal amount of weight down while walking. The knee joint may need to be drained with a needle (mentioned earlier) to remove any blood in the joint.

Most patients receive physical therapy after having an ACL injury. Therapists treat swelling and pain with the use of ice, electrical stimulation, and rest periods with your leg supported in elevation.

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