A 30-year-old skier takes a sharp turn on the slopes and hears a dreaded “pop” in his right knee. He has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)—a band of tissue that’s important for stabilizing the joint. After icing, compressing, and elevating his swollen knee, he visits the doctor. Now it’s time to decide on treatment. If he’s an elite athlete or has additional knee damage, the choice is fairly clear: reconstructive surgery to replace the ACL, plus intense physical therapy. But if he’s a recreational skier who doesn’t do many knee-stressing sports, forgoing surgery in favor of rehabilitation through physical therapy may be a sensible approach. A recent study by researchers in Sweden and Denmark confirms this. The investigators followed
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People get their ACLs torn in car crashes. A simple trip or fall that twists the knee can also result in a tear. Anyone can damage their ACL, but female gymnasts and soccer players are especially prone to ACL tears. There are several possible explanations for women being more vulnerable to ACL injuries, including differences in muscle strength, alignment, and estrogen levels that can loosen ligaments. There’s also some evidence that women are more likely than men to turn their knees inward when changing direction suddenly, placing added strain on their knees and …show more content…
Replacing the torn ligament with tendon does tend to make the joint more stable than physical therapy rehab alone, which is an advantage for people who place a lot of stress on their knees. Surgery may also be the preferred route if there is additional damage to the knee—for example, if a meniscus has been torn. Many people who get reconstructive surgery resume their pre-injury activities; the AAOS reports long-term success rates of 82% to 95%. Star athletes like New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who ruptured his ACL in 2008, can come back from the injury after the operation. But according to Dr. Higgins, the joint never quite works exactly the way it did before the tear, and more research is needed to understand why. Early-onset osteoarthritis is another common complication of ACL tears, probably caused by increased
People get their ACLs torn in car crashes. A simple trip or fall that twists the knee can also result in a tear. Anyone can damage their ACL, but female gymnasts and soccer players are especially prone to ACL tears. There are several possible explanations for women being more vulnerable to ACL injuries, including differences in muscle strength, alignment, and estrogen levels that can loosen ligaments. There’s also some evidence that women are more likely than men to turn their knees inward when changing direction suddenly, placing added strain on their knees and …show more content…
Replacing the torn ligament with tendon does tend to make the joint more stable than physical therapy rehab alone, which is an advantage for people who place a lot of stress on their knees. Surgery may also be the preferred route if there is additional damage to the knee—for example, if a meniscus has been torn. Many people who get reconstructive surgery resume their pre-injury activities; the AAOS reports long-term success rates of 82% to 95%. Star athletes like New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who ruptured his ACL in 2008, can come back from the injury after the operation. But according to Dr. Higgins, the joint never quite works exactly the way it did before the tear, and more research is needed to understand why. Early-onset osteoarthritis is another common complication of ACL tears, probably caused by increased