Have you ever torn your ACL? If so, then you know that the recovery process can be long and challenging. The ACL, also known as the anterior cruciate ligament, crosses the PCL, posterior cruciate ligament, to form an “X”. It connects the tibia and femur, kind of like a long band, and it also hides behind the patella. The ACL keeps the tibia from moving too far forward and also controls the knee when rotating. Anyone can be at risk of an ACL injury, there are many different signs of the injury, there are different types of grafts for the surgery process, and the recovery process can be challenging. To begin with, anyone can be at risk of tear their ACL. People who are involved in contacts sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer.
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A few signs that could be similar to any other knee injuries would be swelling, excruciating pain, “pop” sound, and not being able to put weight on the affected leg. Other signs could be feeling wobbly or unstable when trying to walk or your knee may even feel loser. Some people don’t experience these signs but it still happens. If any of these signs appear and you’re not sure what is happening, stop whatever you’re doing. Further damage to what has already been done is not good.There are different tests to determine if an injury to the ligament has occurred. One of them is called the Lachman Test. The patient will need to flex their knee to a 20-30° angle. The physician will then put one hand on the back of the calf and then the other on the top of the thigh. Once those steps have taken place, they will try to pull the tibia forward. If it happens to move too far forward, it is likely that there is damage to the ACL. Another test that could be done is the Anterior Drawer Test. It is similar to the Lachman Test. To begin this test, the patient will need to lay with their legs at a 45° angle and their hips at a 90° angle. The physician should sit on the patient 's toes just enough to stabilize the knee. Once that step has taken place, the physician will grasp the lower leg, below the tibial plateau. If they can move the leg anteriorly with a lack of end feel, then …show more content…
From the day the patient undergoes surgery, the healing process can take up to at least six months. Immediately after surgery, the patient will learn how to use crutches to assist them while walking. The amount of weight allowed to be put on the affected leg will be determined by the extense of the surgery. Using a cold sleeve shortly after surgery will help prevent the swelling and compress the knee. The pain point of therapy is to regain the strength that was lost with the injury. Within the first week of therapy, the therapist will help with the range of motion. Within the first week of therapy, the therapist will help with the range of motion in your leg. Overall in the first four weeks that therapy is taking place, the therapist will be helping your control and increase the weight that you’ll be able to put on the affected knee. Between weeks 5-12, you may begin trying to walk back on your leg without the crutches and being able to have control. After about three or four months, the thigh muscles on the affected leg should have about 75% of what the unaffected leg has. Higher exercises and activity will be planned for the patient at this point. The activity that this includes may be similar to the sport that you may be getting prepared to get back to, but not everyone who tears their ACL are athletes. After about six months up to a year, the patient will have about 90% of the strength
A few signs that could be similar to any other knee injuries would be swelling, excruciating pain, “pop” sound, and not being able to put weight on the affected leg. Other signs could be feeling wobbly or unstable when trying to walk or your knee may even feel loser. Some people don’t experience these signs but it still happens. If any of these signs appear and you’re not sure what is happening, stop whatever you’re doing. Further damage to what has already been done is not good.There are different tests to determine if an injury to the ligament has occurred. One of them is called the Lachman Test. The patient will need to flex their knee to a 20-30° angle. The physician will then put one hand on the back of the calf and then the other on the top of the thigh. Once those steps have taken place, they will try to pull the tibia forward. If it happens to move too far forward, it is likely that there is damage to the ACL. Another test that could be done is the Anterior Drawer Test. It is similar to the Lachman Test. To begin this test, the patient will need to lay with their legs at a 45° angle and their hips at a 90° angle. The physician should sit on the patient 's toes just enough to stabilize the knee. Once that step has taken place, the physician will grasp the lower leg, below the tibial plateau. If they can move the leg anteriorly with a lack of end feel, then …show more content…
From the day the patient undergoes surgery, the healing process can take up to at least six months. Immediately after surgery, the patient will learn how to use crutches to assist them while walking. The amount of weight allowed to be put on the affected leg will be determined by the extense of the surgery. Using a cold sleeve shortly after surgery will help prevent the swelling and compress the knee. The pain point of therapy is to regain the strength that was lost with the injury. Within the first week of therapy, the therapist will help with the range of motion. Within the first week of therapy, the therapist will help with the range of motion in your leg. Overall in the first four weeks that therapy is taking place, the therapist will be helping your control and increase the weight that you’ll be able to put on the affected knee. Between weeks 5-12, you may begin trying to walk back on your leg without the crutches and being able to have control. After about three or four months, the thigh muscles on the affected leg should have about 75% of what the unaffected leg has. Higher exercises and activity will be planned for the patient at this point. The activity that this includes may be similar to the sport that you may be getting prepared to get back to, but not everyone who tears their ACL are athletes. After about six months up to a year, the patient will have about 90% of the strength