Treatment Choices For Acl Tears
After tearing your ACL, you can have nonsurgical or surgical treatment. The nonsurgical option primarily consists of physical therapy. This leaves the door open for surgery down the road if needed.
Your other choice is to have surgery followed by physical therapy and rehabilitation. If you want to return to the stress of competitive sports or you have a full ligament tear, youre more likely to need surgery.
In both treatment paths, the best decision depends on variables like your age, overall health, the severity of your ACL tear, and if other structures in the knee were damaged.
No matter which treatment path is best for you, one thing is certain: You need to seek early treatment to ensure your recovery is optimal.
Why Are Women At Higher Risk For Acl Injuries
Male and female athletes tend to have differences in how they maneuver in a jump or cut, which puts women at higher risk for injury.
Women tend to activate their quadriceps first, while men tend to activate their hamstrings first. This difference in activation may alter the amount of strain applied to the ACL and other knee ligaments.
In addition, after a jump, women tend to land with their knees closer together than men. Athletes who land with their knees farther apart seem to have less risk of ACL injury.
Fatigue as factor in ACL injuries
Fatigue is a hazard for both male and female athletes. Tired athletes are more likely to use poor mechanics. For example, they may land with their knees closer together. This is especially true when a fatigued athlete makes a split-second decision to execute an unexpected move.
Proper training can help prevent injuries
Studies show that training programs supervised by sports health professionals improve athletes leg strength and jump-landing techniques.
Proper training decreases ACL injury rates in basketball, volleyball and soccer. The techniques that improve ACL safety can also enhance performance, and increase vertical jump height, acceleration and the ability to change direction.
Nothing can prevent ACL injuries altogether. But exploring their potential causes and maximizing prevention strategies can stop the pop and its frustrating consequences.
How Common Are Partial Acl Tears
There is lots of research on the number of complete ACL tears each year. You can even determine your risk of complete ACL tears by sport, level of play, and a number of other variables. In the US it is estimated that there are up to 250,000 ACL tears each year. Determining the number of partial ACL injuries is more difficult due to variable definitions and difficulty in diagnosing a partial tear. That being said, we do know that partial ACL injuries are not very common. Research suggests that partial ACL tears make up anywhere from 5-28% of ACL injuries. The variability in reporting may be for a number of reasons, such as differing definitions of a partial ACL tear and difficulty diagnosing the extent of the injury.
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Comprehensive Orthopedic Care In San Antonio Texas
If you have knee pain and think you might have an injury such as an ACL tear, make an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists here at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. We offer comprehensive orthopedic care including minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, physical therapy, and sports medicine.
If you would like to learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call us today at 692-7400 or fill out our convenient online form to request an appointment. We look forward to being your doctors of choice for orthopedic care.
How Do I Recover From A Partial Acl Tear
Before answering this question it is helpful if you know the typical recovery process for a complete ACL tear. A complete ACL tear can be treated either through an ACL reconstruction surgery or non-surgically. Whether someone chooses to have their ACL reconstructed or not depends on many personal factors as well as factors related to the injury. If the person wants to return to activities with jumping, cutting and pivoting, surgery is usually recommended, but if they just want to do straight line activities then non-surgical treatment is a good option also. There is increasing evidence that non-surgical treatment may be an option, even for people that want to participate in sport. Even if a person wants to have surgery, a rehabilitation program of prehabilitation is recommended to improve their function and strength before surgery. Another consideration is if there is damage to another structure in the knee as well as their ACL, such as a meniscus or medial collateral ligament , then surgery is often recommended. Overall, the length of recovery from a complete ACL injury is approximately 9-12 months if you have a reconstruction surgery. Recovery is shorter without surgery .
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Weeks 2 To 6 Of Your Recovery
Once the pain and swelling have settled, you may be advised to increase or change your exercises. Your physiotherapist will advise you about what exercises to do.
The exercises will help you to:
- fully extend and bend your knee
- strengthen your leg muscles
- begin to walk properly
After 2 to 3 weeks, you should be able to walk without crutches.
As well as specific exercises, activities that do not put much weight on your knee may also be recommended, such as swimming for fitness and cycling. Visit the website of charity Cycling UK for advice.
Range Of Motion Exercises
Help your dog perform these exercises as instructed by your vet or technician. Ask for a demonstration before you take your dog home.
Ask your vet about the limitations your dog may have for mobility in the first few weeks at home, and be careful not to push your dog beyond those limits. The goal is for your dog to quickly use their leg without further injury.
The specific exercises that youll do to encourage a full range of motion may depend on your dogs shape and size as well as the type of surgical procedure performed.
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Can A Torn Acl Heal On Its Own In Dogs
If your dog is unable to have an ACL repair surgery for any reason, you may be researching other treatment options available to them.
A torn ACL in dogs can potentially heal on its own without surgery, but this will always vary from case to case.
When surgery is out of the question for some furry friends, your vet may discuss the following options with you.
Some treatment options of a torn ACL in dogs without surgery include:
- Strict rest to avoid further injury to the area
- Orthopedic braces to stabilize the leg
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles
- Laser therapy or acupuncture to improve circulation and promote healing
- Pain control or anti-inflammatories to offer your dog comfort as they heal
- Joint supplements to help prevent long term damage to the joints
There are certainly conservative options for a torn ACL in dogs that dont involve surgery, but this will vary greatly based on your dogs injury.
For example, the above options may be more successful for a dog with a partial tear rather than a full CCL rupture.
If you are unable to explore surgery for your pup, its always best to discuss other treatment options with your vet.
What Does A Torn Acl Feel Like After A Week
It is possible that swelling will linger for up to a week. Knee discomfort that is both deep and agonizing. When walking or ascending stairs, the discomfort may be more severe than usual. The sensation that the knee is giving out. Activities that place a load on the knee joint, such as stepping down the stairs and rotating on one leg, may cause instability to become more obvious.
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What Is A Partial Acl Tear
Ligament injuries can be classified into three grades of injury with grade 1 being the least severe and grade 3 being the most severe.
Grade 1: The ligament fibres stretch but do not tear
- Mild swelling and pain
- No feelings of instability or knee giving out
- No laxity with a normal feeling of resistance when stretched
Grade 2: The ligament fibres are partially torn
- Moderate swelling and pain
- Knee may feel unstable or give out during activity
- Some increased joint laxity but still a similar feeling of resistance when stretched
Grade 3: The ligament fibres have been completely torn
- Limited pain and variable amounts of swelling initially, followed by delayed swelling due to joint bleeding 1-2 hours after injury
- Feelings of instability and giving out
- Significantly increased laxity with no feeling of resistance with ligament testing
A complete ACL tear would be classified as a grade 3 ligament injury. Partial tears are not as well defined and there is a lot of variability in the severity and definition of a partial ACL tear. For the purposes of this blog we will classify partial ACL injuries as grade 2 ligament injuries however within that definition there may be people with ACLs that are almost completely torn and some with ACLs that are only slightly torn.
Can You Walk With A Completely Torn Acl
There may be swelling for up to a week. The knee is throbbing with deep excruciating agony. When walking or ascending stairs, the discomfort may be more severe. There is a sensation that the knee is going out. Activities that place a load on the knee joint, such as stepping down the stairs and rotating on one leg, can exacerbate instability.
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How Long Does Acl Surgery Recovery Take
Whether you need ACL surgery as the result of a sports injury or because of another type of accident, the recovery timeline is similar for most people. A full recovery, including the return to your pre-injury condition, with full range of motion and stability in the knee joint, usually takes six months.1 However, its important to understand that recovery timelines may vary.Discover ways to recover from your ACL injury with the help of this guide.
The path to recovery involves several stages, each with recommended activities for helping you heal as quickly as possible and return to normal activity. The more closely you follow your doctor’s instructions, the more likely you are to aid the recovery process.
Full Vs Partial Tears And Healing
Full ACL tears cannot heal on their own. These tears almost always need to be treated surgically, typically using a minimally invasive approach called arthroscopy. While a very few patients may restore some of their lost function without surgery, the knee will remain unstable, and that means the chances of reinjuring it are very high.
Even partial ACL tears may require surgery if the injury involves other ligaments, tendons, or your kneecap. In these cases, surgery can be used to fix multiple problems that could interfere with therapy or wind up causing significant problems later on.
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Weeks 6 To 24 Of Your Recovery
You should gradually be able to return to your normal level of activity between 6 weeks and 6 months after your knee operation.
You’ll be encouraged to continue with activities such as cycling and swimming but should avoid sports that involve a lot of twisting, jumping or turning.
This is because you need to allow enough time for the grafted tissue to anchor itself in place inside your knee.
What To Expect After Acl Surgery: The Timeline Of Recovery
There is no one-size-fits-all protocol for post-surgery rehabilitation. Some surgeons may break down recovery into 3 phases, while some may follow the 5-phase rehabilitation. Regardless of the number of phases, all types of ACL rehabilitation have a common goal to restore normal function within the shortest possible time.
ACL surgery is an outpatient procedure. Thus, your doctor will usually allow you to go home on the day of surgery. Continue reading to find out what to do after you reach home, when to call a doctor, and what to expect weeks or months after surgery.6,7,8
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Can You Do Acl Rehab At Home
Rehabilitation for ACL Injuries in the Comfort of Your Own Home It is critical to avoid any workout that compresses or puts pressure on your knee. It is preferable, however, to concentrate on strengthening the muscles that surround the knee joint. If your doctor or physical therapist recommends these exercises, you can perform them at home with their guidance.
Can Acl Injuries Be Prevented
If youre an athlete then it may not be possible to completely eliminate ACL injuries, but various training techniques can minimize the risk of tearing the ACL.
If you play soccer, basketball and volleyball, you should be especially mindful of two things: how you take hard, quick steps to accelerate in another direction and how you land on your feet from a jump or a step .
These cutting and planting maneuvers cause about 70% of all ACL injuries.
The jumping, landing and pivoting involved in these sports all stress the knees ACL particularly in female athletes. Initiating a cut can compromise the ACLs ability to resist rotational forces. Planting incorrectly can overwhelm the ACLs ability to move the knee the way it is designed to do.
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What Happens After Acl Surgery
After surgery youll need to keep your wound clean and dry. Youll use ice to reduce swelling and pain. You may use a brace and crutches.
Youll have physical therapy to strengthen your knee and the muscles around it. The first few days following surgery, youll perform gentle range-of-motion and simple strengthening exercises, and some weight-bearing exercises. Physical therapy will start within the first week, including advanced strengthening and balance activities.
After about 12 to 16 weeks, if youre not an athlete, sport-specific activities are added to the rehabilitation program, such as hopping, jumping and agility drills. An athlete should be able to return to normal activity about six to nine months after the ACL surgery.
What Is An Acl Injury In Dogs
Before we discuss whether or not a dog with a torn ACL should be put to sleep, its important to understand the details of the condition.
While we often refer to this condition as a torn ACL in dogs, the anterior cruciate ligament is a term only used when referring to the human knee.
While veterinary professionals may use this abbreviation when explaining a dogs knee injury, the ligament in dogs is actually the cranial cruciate ligament .
This cranial cruciate ligament in dogs has a similar role as the human ACL, as it runs through the front of the tibia and the femur, offering support to the knee.
When learning about this injury in our furry friends, you may see the two terms used interchangeably.
Just like the human ACL, the CCL in dogs can easily tear or become strained when compromised in any way.
Dogs can injure their CCL through sudden twisting injuries, as a result of stress to the joint over time, or even due to improper breeding.
No matter the cause of your dogs CCL rupture, it is incredibly painful.
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How Long Does It Take To Recover From Acl Surgery And Return To Sports
It takes a while for the graft to become part of the body and go through a process of we call ligamentization, which is becoming a new ligament, McCarty said. That process can take nine or 10 months.
Although some exceptional athletes can return to sports in six months, a more realistic scenario after an ACL tear is a recovery time of at least eight to nine months.
Even then, after youve done great therapy and have come back to sports, it can sometimes take another year before you feel normal again, McCarty said.
His patients often tell him that it isnt until the second season after ACL surgery that they feel like they have fully returned to their previous level of play.
Since everyone heals differently, theres no set time for athletes to return to sports. Tests can determine whether or not a reconstructed knee is as functional as the other knee and up to the rigors of a particular sport. Doctors and physical therapists usually have the final say on whether or not an athlete is ready to compete safely.
Research shows that up to one-third of athletes sustain another ACL tear in the same or opposite knee within two years, suggesting that an ACL tear recovery time of 10 months or longer may be associated with a lower risk of re-injury.
Acl Surgery: The Fastest Way To Recover From An Acl Tear
Unlike recovery from a torn MCL which can usually be rehabilitated back to health recovery from an ACL tear almost always begins with surgery.
If youre staring down the barrel of an ACL reconstruction or just went through ACL surgery you probably have a few questions
- How long does it take to recover from an ACL surgery?
- Whats the fastest way to recover from ACL reconstruction?
- What should I do after my ACL surgery?
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To 12 Weeks: Dos And Donts
This is the late phase of rehabilitation where you have gained sufficient joint mobility, muscle strength, and balance.
Your physical therapist customizes the exercises, depending on your goals and athletic demands, which may include:
- Specific strength training
- Power and agility drills
You may swim, cycle, or job, as advised by the physical therapist. Moreover, you will gradually resume your training.
Dont do any of these exercises if the affected knee is swollen or has not regained full range of motion.
