Ever twisted your knee to the point of hyper-extension? Ouch!
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) connects the lower leg to the thigh bone (femur) and helps keep the leg bones aligned. It also happens to be one of the most frequently injured ligaments in the knee.
Preventing ACL Injury
Help prevent ACL injuries by strengthening the muscles around the knee joint and staying active. Ideas include:
- Using proper exercise techniques
- Quadriceps and hamstring strengthening exercises
- Core strengthening exercises
Also, stretch your muscles and warm up before starting a sports practice, game or exercise routine. Using correct form and practicing balance while pivoting or turning also may help you avoid an ACL tear.
Suspect a Torn ACL?
So, maybe the damage is done? Skiing, football, basketball and soccer are the sports that tend to create the most ACL injuries. Athletes who jump and land awkwardly, slow down quickly, change directions suddenly, or pivot frequently are most susceptible to ACL injuries.
Signs of a torn ACL include:
- Severe pain
- Feeling of instability in the knee
- Popping sensation or loud pop sound in the knee
- Swelling
- Inability to continue the activity
If you think you’ve injured your knee and feel considerable pain, it’s probably a good idea to get it checked. A doctor may use a combination of imaging and a physical exam and to figure out what’s going on with your knee. Many such injuries require an MRI, xray or CT scan. Once the doctor has diagnosed your injury, you can work together to build a treatment plan.
Reconstructing the ACL
While it’s always smart to begin with conservative treatment options, a torn ACL rarely will mend itself.
Surgery often is the only option to restore function to the knee. Fortunately, this type of injury is typically repaired arthroscopically. That means the surgeon makes small incisions and inserts a lens that allows him or her to see inside the joint. The surgeon can then use a graft to replace the damaged ligament and work to repair other damaged parts of the knee. This procedure sometimes can be done as an outpatient surgery, permitting you to head home more quickly.
Expert Orthopaedic Care
If you think you might have a torn ACL, the specialists at Colorado Springs Orthopaedic group can help you with your treatment plan.
They offer two options: the main clinic or the CSOG Express Care Clinic. Express is a specialty copay which is usually less than urgent care facilities. And the cash pay program is significantly lower than both an urgent care or the emergency room. At the CSOG Express Care Clinic, you have direct access to specialists in bone, muscle and joint injury care. There is also less risk of contact with possible contagious germs found in emergency rooms and urgent care centers.
Contact Information
Phone: 719-622-4550 (Express Care Clinic) or 719-632-7669 (Main Clinic)
Address: 4110 Briargate Parkway, Suite 145
Hours: Monday thru Friday 9am-7pm. Saturday 10am- 2pm.
