What to Know About ACL Sports Injuries

With the fall sports season starting up again, ACL injuries become a more common occurrence. But is there a way they can be prevented? Learn this and more about ACL tears, including how they happen and how they are treated.

What is the ACL?

The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is one of four major stabilizing ligaments in the knee. It connects the femur to the tibia. Along with the other knee ligaments — the PCL, the LCL and the MCL — its main purpose is to prevent the tibia, the shin bone, from sliding forward and spinning on the femur.

What causes an ACL tear?

A tear of the ACL is most often a non-contact injury, rather than an impressive or violent injury. It can occur when you plant your foot and then suddenly change your direction; the foot goes one way, and the knee goes another. You will typically feel or hear a pop, fall to the ground and be unable to get up or have difficulty walking. An ACL tear will likely cause significant swelling of the knee.

Is surgery necessary?

While an ACL tear will improve over time, with swelling decreasing, range of motion improving and pain lessening, the knee will still feel unstable. It is possible to live a normal life without the ACL intact, but you usually won’t be able to play high-impact sports like football, basketball and baseball that involve cutting, pivoting and twisting. If you do, you risk further damage or injury to the cartilage of the knee. Because of its location in the middle of the knee joint, the ACL will not heal on its own, and the only way to repair it is with surgery. Surgery involves reconstructing a new ACL, either from a cadaver or from your own hamstring or patellar tendon.

How long is recovery?

The recovery process takes between six months to a year. However, most people are walking by two to four weeks after surgery, as they work to regain mobility of their knee. Once the new ACL has healed, the focus shifts to strengthening. Depending on your unique case and level of atrophy, you can expect to resume high-impact sports within that six- to 12-month period.

Can an ACL tear be prevented?

While ACL tears are common and can happen at all levels, from high school to professional sports, there are a few ways to prevent one. First, be aware of what sports these injuries occur during. High-impact sports like football, basketball, baseball and even skiing have greater risk. Second, keep your legs — specifically your quad and hamstring muscles — strong with daily exercise. Doing so can greatly decrease the chance of tearing your ACL.

Scott Zehnder, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon with Motion Orthopedics and is on staff at Progress West Hospital. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Zehnder by calling 636.928.WELL.

Schedule an appointment with an orthopedic specialist