Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury or Knee Injury

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury usually occurs when the knee is forcefully twisted or hyper-extended. The tearing of the ligament occurs with a sudden directional change when the foot remains fixed on the ground or when a deceleration force crosses the knee.

ACL injury is common in soccer, skiing, football, and other sports with lots of stop-and-go movements, jumping, or weaving.

Falling off a ladder or missing a step on a staircase can also cause ACL injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament, like any other body part, becomes weaker with age and can degenerate so that it is non-functional. Therefore tears happen more easily in people over age 40.

The symptoms often include

• Hearing a ‘pop’, ‘crack’ or feel a ‘snap’ within the knee.
• The knee swelling within the first few hours of the injury, a sign of bleeding inside the knee joint. Swelling that occurs suddenly is usually a sign of a serious knee injury.
• Stages where the knee can give-way or a feeling that the knee will give-way
• Knee movement can often be restricted because of the swelling and associated meniscus tear.

Advanced Physio’s therapists are skilled in treating sports and lower limb injuries, and we specialise in treating many different knee-related injuries.

To confirm a diagnosis and severity of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, our qualified physiotherapists will perform a clinical examination, taking into account the history of the injury. If an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament is suspected, our physiotherapists will recommend further imaging (MRI) be performed and a specialist opinion sort to rule in or out the injury

Acute Management

Advanced Physio’s initial management will focus on decreasing swelling in the knee, increasing range of motion and quadriceps strengthening exercises. This is a crucial step in the rehabilitation of these injuries even if the end result is surgery.