Any injury is a bad injury and we would never wish it on anyone under any circumstances, but let’s be honest – some injuries are more devastating than others and ACL injuries certainly fall into that category. 

Especially for athletes who hope to recover and continue playing at an elite level. 

Unfortunately, we’ve already seen several of our favorite athletes fall victim to a torn ACL this season – with Ronald Acuña Jr. (MLB), Cameron Brink (WNBA), Nikola Topić (NBA) being some of the most recent.

But those are just the high-profile cases. 

What most people underestimate about ACL injuries is that they aren’t limited to athletes and can happen to just about anyone. In fact, more than 400,000 ACL injuries occur every year in the United States alone.

And a good chunk of those will happen in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

So, that begs the question – what is the ACL?

And what makes ACL injuries so heartbreaking and devastating? 

Meet the ACL: Getting to Know Your Anterior Cruciate Ligament

There are between 250 and 350 joints located in the human body. Of those joints, the knee joint is by far the largest and most complex – and is equipped with a variety of moving parts that are prone to injury. 

All in all, the knee is made up of four primary things – bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

• The three bones that meet to form your knee joint are your thigh bone (femur), shinbone (tibia, and kneecap (patella). 
• Cartilage is a strong, flexible connective tissue that acts as a shock absorber and helps your joints keep their shape. 
• Tendons are tough, fibrous connective tissues that attach muscles to bones, allowing a transfer of force necessary for movement.
• Ligaments are tough, elastic bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones to help prevent unnecessary movements.

But let’s talk about ligaments…

There are four ligaments in the knee – two collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL) and two cruciate ligaments (PCL and ACL). We can discuss the MCL, LCL, and PCL in a separate post, but let’s zero in on the ACL. 

Also known as the anterior cruciate ligament, the ACL runs diagonally through the middle of your knee and crosses in front of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), forming an ‘X’ shape inside the knee joint.

It basically prevents the tibia (shinbone) from sliding out in front of the femur (thighbone).

Without your ACL, the knee wouldn’t be stable or functional enough to accommodate even the simplest movements – including walking, climbing stairs, jogging, swimming, jumping, cutting, and pivoting. 

Pop Goes the ACL: The Knee-Crunching Truth About ACL Injuries

The ACL is one of the most injury prone ligaments in the human body. One wrong move could have you grabbing at your knee in agony – unable to stand or walk without feeling like your knee is giving out.

Just the thought of it will make anyone cringe – no matter how tough you are. 

With that said, ACL injuries can be grouped into one of three categories: 

1. Grade 1 Sprain – the ACL is mildly damaged and slightly stretched, but still capable of stabilizing the knee joint. 
2. Grade 2 Sprain – also known as a partial tear, this is where the ACL is stretched to the point it becomes loose.
3. Grade 3 Sprain – also known as a complete tear, this is where the ACL has been torn in half or pulled directly off the bone.

Some of the most common causes of ACL injuries include sudden changes of direction (pivoting), landing awkwardly from a jump, abruptly stopping or decelerating while running, and a direct blow to the knee. 

It’s a popular injury in high-demand sports like soccer, football, and basketball. 

Most people know when they tear an ACL because they’ll hear or feel a ‘popping’ sound or sensation in the knee at the time of injury – as well as experience swelling, instability, and reduced range of motion.

The ACL is not to be confused with the achilles tendon, which is located at the back of your ankle.

Bouncing Back: What Can Physical Therapy Do for You?

Tearing your ACL might seem like the end of the world and it’ll certainly keep you away from most daily activities for several months (if not a full year), but don’t worry – treatments exist and recovery is possible.

And it doesn’t always have to involve going under the knife. 

For example, most Grade 1 ACL sprains can be treated with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) – as well as wearing a knee brace for extra support and working with a physical therapist. 

And while surgery is recommended for ACL tears, it’s not always necessary. 

Whether you opt for surgery or not, physical therapy is going to play a major role in your recovery – not only to repair the damaged ACL, but to strengthen it and prevent the risk of re-injuring it in the future.

Here are some of the things we can do to help you bounce back to form: 

• Reactive training to teach the body to respond to both predictable and unpredictable demands.
• Objective testing to help identify clinical signs of pathology – instead of just symptoms.
• Performance training to gradually re-introduce you to your normal, day-to-day activities.
• Rebuilding quadricep strength to give your knees a solid foundation to build off of. 

We like to look at ACL treatment in three different phases. First, we reduce the pain in the knee. Second, we regain strength and stability in the knee. And third, we try to prevent any future injuries to the knee. 

PhysioRX: Your Personal Road to Recovery Starts Here

Have you recently suffered an ACL sprain or a torn ACL? Are you ready to begin the road to recovery? Do you hope to return to the sport you love so dearly? Are you hoping to avoid reconstruction surgery? 

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions above, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Welcome to PhysioRX – where people with ACL injuries get a second shot at a normal life. 

If you’ve found yourself sidelined by an ACL injury, it’s time to get back on your feet and reclaim your active lifestyle. But don’t worry – you don’t have to do it alone. At least not with PhysioRX by your side!

‍Call or text us today at (646) 860-0670 or book a free consultation online to see how we can help!