An ACL injury sounds like something that would only happen to an athlete. Brandon Fites, MD, orthopedic and sports medicine specialist with Avera Orthopedics in Aberdeen, SD, says they’re more common than you think. Everyone from high school and recreational athletes to farmers and ranchers can suffer an ACL injury.
Located in your knee, the anterior cruciate ligament helps hold your thigh bone and shin bone together and promotes movement.
What Are Common Causes of ACL Injuries
Out of the hundreds of ACL tears and ruptures Fites and his team see each year, most are non-contact injuries.
“When the player or person pivoted or changed direction, the quadriceps and hamstrings didn’t absorb the force,” explained Fites. “Rather, the momentum of the person’s movement carried through to the ACL, causing a tear.”
Athletes most at risk for ACL injuries are those who change direction quickly in the game, such as football, basketball and soccer players. Female soccer players have the highest rate of ACL tears, added Fites. You can also hurt your ACL with awkward landing or walking or pivoting on uneven surfaces.
ACL Injury Symptoms
People know right away they have a serious injury because of the intense pain and weakness. Some often describe a “popping” sensation. And because the ACL is living tissue, it bleeds and causes swelling in the knee.
While most people rush for medical attention, some endure the pain instead. “After a week, the pain subsides but leaves a very unstable knee,” said Fites. “A farmer walking in the field may experience weakness and loss of motion; his knee may buckle for a moment, but he doesn’t fall completely.”
It’s after these situations when people look for medical attention. “If they’re experiencing instability, that’s when we see people one or two years after injuring their ACL.”
Treatments for an ACL Injury
The ACL cannot repair itself on its own. A complete tear, for example, must be reconstructed through surgery. To reconstruct the ACL, Fites uses a tendon from the patient to remake the ligament.
However, some patients — particularly the older population — may elect not to have surgery if their injury was less severe and doesn’t pose any limitations in daily activities. Instead, medication and/or physical therapy can help strengthen the knee.
