![acl tear symptoms acl tear symptoms](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/fullsize/18003.jpg)
Optimal rehabilitation is staged for return to aggressive sports activities or heavy labor after approximately six months. When arthroscopic reconstruction is necessary, walking in a protective brace is begins within 1-2 weeks of surgery.It’s often painful, and can make it hard to walk or put pressure on the. Do not participate in jumping, cutting or twisting sports until you have recovered fully from you injury, and the doctor has cleared you to do so. You can stretch or tear your ACL if you make a sudden movement or quick, sharp turn when you’re running or jumping.Complete rupture of the ACL can affect knee function for a lifetime and can lead to osteoarthritis if not treated correctly. Be sure you understand your injury and treatment thoroughly.120 degrees of flexion is recommended prior to surgery. In cases where surgical treatment is necessary, make sure that early knee stiffness is improving prior to surgery.Avoid excessive swelling in your knee, calf and ankle regions by conscientious elevation and frequent muscle contractions.If the shock-absorbing cartilages (menisci) are torn extensively, surgery may be required even in less active patients. These can result in: Partial ACL Tear: where only some of the ligament fibres are torn or ACL Rupture: where the ligament tears completely The ACL can be stretched just under 2mm before it will tear. This patient group should avoid aggressive sports in the future. An ACL knee injury occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament is overstretched, usually by the knee bending backwards too far or twisting awkwardly. In older or less active patients, exercise therapy like cycling with a toe-clip and bracing of the knee may be selected as optimal treatment, as long as instability is not present.A single hamstring tendon from the back of your thigh is the preferred graft. Arthroscopic surgery should be undertaken in young, active patients because the ACL will not heal unless surgically restored.Knee straightening (extension) and bending (flexion) are encouraged by gentle stretching, stationary cycling and/or pool therapy.Walking (weight-bearing) is preferable if muscular control of the injured leg is adequate.
![acl tear symptoms acl tear symptoms](https://www.orthotexas.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Thinmasthead_0014_shutterstock_720409864-1.jpg)
Ice, elevation and compression to control swelling.Athletes who attempt to return to action may experience a second episode of instability (pivoting). Pain may be minimal initially if the ACL alone is damaged. Typical symptoms are a “pop” at the time of the initial injury followed by swelling which appears within the first 24 hours. The injury typically occurs during sports such as skiing, basketball and soccer and may occur at surprisingly low force applications. The most common cause is a knee hyperextension with a twist (torsion) which occurs while the knee is momentarily unprotected by the surrounding musculature, especially your hamstrings. The anterior cruciate ligament is located centrally within the knee, behind the kneecap, making it difficult for the to specifically localize the injury. This injury is a total disruption of the most important stabilizing ligament in the knee. Your diagnosis is a complete (Grade III) tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).