2 min read • October 20, 2022
Posted in
By Reuben Varghese
The anterior cruciate ligament is a vital part of your knee joint that allows balance, coordination and movement. Without it, most athletes are in excruciating pain and are unable to run. Young athletes with an ACL deficient knee are usually unable to continue to play sports with a torn ligament. If you do, you are putting yourself at risk for further complications.
The joint in your knee is composed of three bones: your femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone) and patella. Elastic tissue called ligaments connect these bones to create stability in your knee that allows you to walk and run. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four ligaments in the middle of a healthy knee that cross diagonally anteriorly to prevent your shin from sliding too far ahead of your thigh bone. Along with the opposing posterior cruciate ligament, these cruciate ligaments create an ‘X’ that overall prevent your shin from sliding to far forward or backward. Though you can have injury to your PCL, ACL tears are by far the most common ligamentous injury to football players that can leave you sidelined for months. Torn meniscus are also a common injury that may be suspected with a ligament issue.
A Player Is Hit in the Knee Causing Hyperextension: The function of your ACL is to protect your shin bone from sliding past your thigh bone. One way your ACL can rupture or tear can be due to a tackle or contact in which the position of your shin is forcefully pushed past its anatomical barrier causing your ACL to stretch beyond its limits. Your knees tend to buckle, and you will hear a “pop” noise signifying a torn ACL.
Often Pushing off the Ground and Changing Direction at the Same Time: Oftentimes, ACL injuries are formed through non-contact. It occurs suddenly when an individual changes direction or lands awkwardly after going up for a catch causing knee twisting that can lead to excessive stress on the joint. Most likely caused by constant wear and tear over time, it can cause excruciating pain.
A Popping Noise and Sudden Feeling of Instability: An ACL tear can oftentimes be diagnosed through a patient recanting the incident in which he or she hears a popping noise followed by inability to put weight on the knee. This noise is most likely due to a torn ACL.
Swelling: Swelling and inflammation in your knee is common for individuals. The buildup of fluid around your knee can last for 2-4 weeks. This can be reduced through anti-inflammatories and ice.
Inability to Put Weight on the Knee: Because the ACL is a key component of support in your knee that allows for mobility, if you feel you are unable to walk and put weight on your knee, you may be experiencing a ligamentous injury.
On a football team, there are many positions that require different varieties of skills. However, this comes with different risks to future injury based on your role on the team.
Offense: Tight ends and wide receivers are the highest offensive players to be at risk . Constant shifts in weight on the knees and weight administered to your knee when jumping to catch the ball can be detrimental. Interior lineman and guards are at risk on a professional level. Tackles have a very low rate of torn ACL injuries.
Defense: Defensive players such as corners, safeties, linebackers must make quick movements to defend the offensive receivers from getting the ball. This can put stress on your knees and affect knee stability. Defensive backs and defensive ends have the lowest risk of obtaining ACL injuries.
Once an ACL injury is suspected in an individual, there are two steps that normally occur: 1) ACL Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation 2) ACL Repair Surgery
The first step after a suspected torn ACL that you should do it at home no matter if you are a highly active athlete or non-athlete is the R.I.C.E method. Each letter is symbolic of the following:
Rest(R): Walking on the affected knee can lead to more injury and can set you back for a longer recovery. Avoid putting weight on the knee until the swelling dissipates.
Ice(I): Whenever you can, you want to ice the knee as its analgesic effects prevent your pain signals from firing.
Compress(C): Use an elastic bandage or gauze to wrap your knee tightly. This can provide support and protect other structures from injury.
Elevate(E): Elevating your foot reduces the swelling at the knee.
Once the swelling has gone down in the knee, one often must undergo weeks of physical therapy and sports medicine consultations in order to build strength in the knee. Therapists will build your knee strength through resistance bands, water exercise and low intensity exercises to build up your muscles around the knee to support weight again. With an individual with a mild ACL sprain, you resume normal function in the knee within 2-4 weeks. Furthermore, therapy may be the best option for those that do not engage in high intensity physical activity on a normal basis.
Often with more serious injuries such as in full ACL tears, it is recommended to receive professional medical advice from an orthopedic surgeon. ACL reconstruction surgery consists of using a band of tissue from the other knee or donor that exists normally between a bone and muscle (tendon) in order to place a new anterior cruciate ligament. This replacement tissue is called a graft and serves as a region where new ligamentous tissue can form. Orthopedic surgeons are highly trained in this type of surgery and within a few hours, you can have a brand new ACL. Individuals will still have to undergo physical therapy for months to regain full mobility in that knee.
Practice Good Technique: Planting your feet correctly to provide a proper launching pad or even figuring out a proper way to land after catching a ball can be vital in preventing ACL injuries.
Strengthen your knee muscles: Building proper thigh and calf muscles will allow proper distribution of weight on your knee so when you are participating in contact sports, your body can properly allocate the shifts in body composition upon contact.
Proper padding/taping: With the constant change of directions a player runs throughout a football game, wearing knee braces or tape before practice or game can provide your knee with the proper support. Talk to your sports medicine doctor to find out how you can best protect yourself.
A torn ACL is common not only just in football but all other sports such as soccer, basketball, etc. Though you may be tempted to continue to play on having experienced discomfort in your knee, it may be wise to speak to a medical professional to prevent risking further future injury. With the right guidance from a physical therapist or physician that can convey medical advice, you can recover properly to get back on the field in no time. This article serves for educational and informational purposes.
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