In various high-risk sports which require pivoting, jumping, and cutting, an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) plays a highly important role in stabilizing a knee joint and keeping it in place. But for this same reason, it’s also a very commonly injured ligament of a knee. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries may cause disability, loss of function, or pain.
When the ACL tear occurs, your lower leg bone slides forward and you may hear the “pop” in your knee. A swollen knee is typically the first symptom most people experience after an injury.
Where Does A Person Feel The ACL Pain?
After the ACL tear, an individual can experience pain in the center of a knee. The ACL injury symptoms include swelling around a knee joint, pain in the back area of a leg, and instability while changing direction or walking quickly.
How To Know If Your ACL Is Sprained Or Torn?
The ACL sprain and ACL tear are injuries to an anterior cruciate ligament in your knee, which cause stiffness, pain, swelling, difficulty moving around or walking, and instability. The difference between these two is the degree of an injury. The ACL tear is the complete rupture of a ligament, while the ACL strain means the tearing or stretching of some fibers in a ligament. In this situation, ACL reconstruction is recommended for avoiding long-term issues.
Can Stretching Prevent ACL Tears?
Stretching can warm up the muscles before you put them to use, which significantly reduces the risk of an injury. During this time, focus on strengthening the quadriceps muscles in order to keep the knees from buckling. Additionally, you should wear the appropriate brace while playing sports. It can keep the knee in place, which means you won’t be putting too much pressure on it when jumping or running. Finally, make sure to wear proper footwear to maintain a good foot alignment.
When Do You Need To Get The ACL Reconstruction Surgery?
Even though pain and swelling in your knee may subside gradually without proper treatment, chances are, you’ll still feel unstable when walking. You can treat the majority of partial ACL tears with physical rehabilitation. However, in case you have a complete tear, you should opt for surgical intervention for regaining the knee’s full range of motion. Getting the ACL reconstruction can also solve the problem of the unstable knee, which often leads to other joint issues. Using knee arthroscopy, an ACL surgeon can remove a damaged ligament, replacing it with the graft tendon.
Consult The ACL Surgeon In Singapore
If you are in need of ACL surgery after the ACL tear, consider booking an appointment as soon as possible. After the appointment, you can schedule the surgery of ACL reconstruction in Singapore before your injury worsens. Depending on how your ACL was injured, treatment can consist of several non-surgical measures like ice, compression, elevation, and rest, or surgical intervention with the reconstruction or wearing the brace that can support the knee joint. As for the rehabilitation process after the ACL reconstruction, it usually takes up to 6 months for most people, while it may take 2 years for others.