Around 86% of all knee injuries are found to be ACL or anterior cruciate ligament tears, whereas PCL or posterior cruciate ligament injuries occurred around 7% in an observation by NIH. Adolescents and young people between 12 to 20 years of age are more prone to this injury. Patients should seek early diagnosis and proper treatment from expert orthopedic surgeons.” – National Institute of Health, Healthy Children
A knee consists of four ligaments, which keep the stability and movement of the bones in the joint. Two of them are the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament (ACL and PCL). Any sudden change in movement or playing sports can cause injury to these ligaments. Most commonly a popping sound occurs at the time of the ligament tear. The PCL joins the bone of the shin to the rear of the thigh bone.
Depending on how much the tear extends, these injuries are categorized as grade I, grade II, grade III, and grade IV. As some of the symptoms, a person would feel slightly uncomfortable or face severe instability. It also has long-term problems that may get worse with time. Thus, one person needs immediate ACL injury treatment to regain knee functionality.
ACL and PCL can affect knee stability. Both cause pain and swelling. Sometimes, the symptoms can be the same type but different in intensity. ACL injuries and pain are often major than PCL injuries. Also, ACL can cause complete avulsion in the ligament. There are some common symptoms of these injuries:
PCL injuries are not as painful as ACLs. In PCL tears, you will feel quick swelling. These types of knee injuries hardly result in complete instability. Thus, you should get a proper diagnosis and suggestions from a professional about ACL injury treatment.
The ACL can get injured when one stops, sits, or changes direction suddenly or turns around when playing. Also, you can injure them by jumping and landing while practicing acrobatics. Soccer, football, and basketball athletes mostly get these injuries. Occasionally, the ligament pulls a small part of the bone, and it is called an avulsion fracture. Also, sometimes, the fluid may build up in a ligament and weaken it.
Risk Factors for ACL Injuries
ACL injury treatment depending on grade treatment varies from physiotherapy, and exercises to Regenerative orthobiologics to hybrid ACL surgical repairs. Also, to prevent this ligament from pulling, one should train effectively, wear proper shoes, and maintain strong knee muscles.
To diagnose the accuracy of an ACL or PCL injury, one must follow several procedures. The doctors start the assessments by checking the signs of inflammation, pain, tenderness, and limitations to movement. They compare the injured knee with the healthy knee to get the results. Doctors also take additional tests, such as:
The results of MRI are very accurate for checking ACL injuries. They help assess the injury’s extent and identify other cartilage glitches. An accurate diagnosis holds much importance in ACL injury treatment.
Almost every ligament injury has multiple grades defined by how deep the tear is. In case the tear is mild, it can heal on its own. In such cases, you can promote healing by using medicines for pain relief and inflammation.
Moreover, the RICE method also helps heal ligament tears faster. If you have an ACL tear, then you can follow the RICE treatment by resting and not putting stress on the knee, followed by applying ice to manage pain. Moreover, compression and putting the leg in an elevated position help deal with inflammation and allow faster recovery. After the recovery, physical therapy helps strengthen the muscles further for improved support to the knee.
However, if the tear is of a higher grade, then you must opt for other treatment options like regenerative intervention. In regenerative orthobiolgics intervention, orthobiologics are prepared to be injected into the affected area, which allows the recovery of even deeper ligament tears. But if your ligament has totally torn, then ligament reconstruction is the only option, which is a surgical approach.
Consult our experts at Axis Clinics to better know the best treatment options to treat your ACL injury.
For rehabilitation of ACL injuries, one should restore the motion, strength, and stability. Initial activities for ACL injury treatment are passive knee bends and small circular knee movements. Proprioceptive movements like balance and stability of a joint are vital for muscular-skeletal stability. Try to make your return to full activities under the supervision of a physical therapist.
The ACL is vital for your knee stability which also acts as a stabilizer when the leg is moving. The patella links the femur and the tibia and prevents lateral and longwise movements. Ankle ligament injury can occur without any involvement of contact. Try to prevent it early if you are an athlete or an active person. Below are simple tips to reduce the risk of ACL injuries:
These tips reduce the chances of getting an injury and keep your knees healthy. One should immediately consult experts to have ACL injury treatments if there is any kind of pain.
Some of the signs if you suffer an ACL injury are a pop in your knee or even a snapping sound. You may find that it is difficult for you to stand or walk, and you may feel more like your knee is going to give way. While some experience pain, others may experience a tingling sensation. One should get medical attention if they have wrecked their knee.
ACL and PCL can hamper your knee with pain, swelling, and lesser mobility of the knee joint. Seek medical help as early as possible for proper ACL injury treatment to keep away the warning signs. For the best care for your knee joints and ligaments, contact Axis Clinics.
If your additional ligaments are torn or if your knees are not stable till now after physical therapy, then you may need surgery. But before that, always consult with your doctor about your age and physical condition.
Rotational instability is the prime symptom of the anterior cruciate ligament. You may walk, or run, in a straight line after an ACL injury, but you can fall when you want to move in a direction. A PCL injury can also cause mild instability in your knees.
You have to push down on the knee displacement from its normal position. If you detect too much movement in your joint, it can be a PCL tear. It is always recommended to consult experts at Axis Clinics for better diagnosis.
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