Current:Home > BackACL-related injuries are very common. Here's what causes them, plus how to avoid them.-LoTradeCoin
ACL-related injuries are very common. Here's what causes them, plus how to avoid them.
View Date:2024-12-23 17:07:40
When it comes to knee injuries, none are more common than ones related to the anterior cruciate ligament, commonly called the ACL. This major band of supportive tissue in the knee is injured so frequently that research available at the National Library of Medicine shows that nearly 1 out of every 3,500 people experience a tear, sprain or break in the area at least once a year, causing some 400,000 ACL surgeries to take place annually in the United States.
But ACL injuries can occur for a wide variety of reasons, making it helpful to know what's behind the most common ones.
Where is your ACL?
The ACL is one of four main ligaments within the knee, and the one that provides the most "stability to the knee joint," says Dr. Anikar Chhabra, an orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, and chair of the division of sports medicine for Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He explains that the ligament is composed of two areas known as the anteromedial bundle, "which controls anterior and posterior stability," and the posterolateral bundle, "which is important for rotational stability."
The ACL is located inside the knee joint, and connects the femur - called the thigh bone, to the tibia - called the shin bone. The patella - called the kneecap, is located in front of the ACL and helps protect it and the other ligaments that run through the center of the knee.
Why are ACL injuries so common?
Injuries to the ACL happen for many reasons but are especially common in sports that involve a sudden change of direction such as with soccer, gymnastics, basketball, or football. ACL injuries can also occur as a result of car or bike accidents and in sports and activities where one experiences a direct impact to the knee such as a football player being tackled "low and from behind," or from an athlete crashing into a stable object, "such as a skier’s knee running against a tree," says Dr. Loren Fishman, a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Columbia University,
ACL injuries can also occur when "jumping and landing while a knee is still extended or from twisting your knee while your foot is still on the ground," explains Paul Schroeder, a physical therapist and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association.
Beyond sports-induced injuries, Chhabra says that other issues can contribute to an ACL tear such as malalignment problems or offsetting notch sizes of the kneecap, excess weight constantly bearing down on the area, hormonal changes, or from someone having ligamentous laxity.
Women are also known to have "up to an eight times increased risk of sustaining an ACL injury compared to males," he adds. This is primarily because of women having less protective muscle mass around the knee and because women's joints typically have more looseness and greater range of motion than the joints of men.
How can ACL injuries be prevented?
While it isn't possible to completely avoid an ACL injury, there are ways to minimize risk. Fishman recommends avoiding movements or activities that can cause any sudden stress to the knee and he suggests keeping one's hamstrings strong, "which tend to keep the tibia back, assisting the ACL with its work."
Schroeder similarly recommends strengthening the tibia but adds that it's also important to strengthen all other muscles within one's hips, legs and knees. Exercises that can help with targeting these muscles include leg lifts, lunges, squats, lateral walks, mountain climbers, and Pilates and yoga movements and positions.
Other suggestions to lower sports-related ACL injuries include "learning and executing proper form and techniques," offers Chhabra, wearing appropriate shoes that "provide good support and help maintain knee stability," and avoiding sports specialization, "as this can lead to overtraining, overuse, and muscle and joint fatigue."
How can I tell if I tore my ACL?
If you feel pain in your knee, lose range of motion, feel unstable, hear a popping noise, experience swelling or difficulty walking, or have any other reason to suspect an ACL injury, "it's important to see a sports medicine or orthopedic specialist," Chhabra recommends. He says such providers can examine the area and use X-rays and other equipment to diagnose any problems.
"Once an ACL tear has been discovered, you would work with a surgeon and physical therapist to determine if surgery is necessary, and, if so, what that recovery will look like," says Schroeder. "Whether you have surgery or not, your physical therapist will work with you to restore your muscle strength and your gait and balance, so you can return to activity once healed."
veryGood! (481)
Related
- Louisville officials mourn victims of 'unthinkable' plant explosion amid investigation
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Kiss After Chiefs NFL Win Is Flawless, Really Something
- Taylor Swift Leaves No Blank Spaces in Her Reaction to Travis Kelce’s Team Win
- A Maryland high school fight involving a weapon was ‘isolated incident,’ police say
- 'The Penguin' spoilers! Colin Farrell spills on that 'dark' finale episode
- Shooter at Southern University frat party takes plea deal
- Dick Cheney will back Kamala Harris, his daughter says
- NFL Kickoff record 28.9 million viewers watch Kansas City hold off Baltimore
- BITFII Introduce
- Montana Gov. Gianforte’s foundation has given away $57 million since 2017. Here’s where it went.
Ranking
- Who will save Florida athletics? Gators need fixing, and it doesn't stop at Billy Napier
- Sting talks upcoming tour, friendship with Billy Joel and loving Austin Butler in 'Dune'
- Canadian para surfer Victoria Feige fights to get her sport included in 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics
- Police say 2 children were found dead inside a vehicle in Oklahoma
- Here's Your First Look at The White Lotus Season 3 With Blackpink’s Lisa and More Stars
- Tzuyu of TWICE on her debut solo album: 'I wanted to showcase my bold side'
- Vanderpump Rules Alum Kristen Doute Is Engaged to Luke Broderick After 2 Years of Dating
- Apple juice sold at Walmart, Aldi, Walgreens, BJ's, more recalled over arsenic levels
Recommendation
-
USMNT Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal Leg 1 vs. Jamaica: Live stream and TV, rosters
-
Nebraska is evolving with immigration spurring growth in many rural counties
-
Jannik Sinner reaches the US Open men’s final by beating Jack Draper after both need medical help
-
Donald Trump might make the Oscar cut – but with Sebastian Stan playing him
-
AIT Community Introduce
-
Pamela Anderson takes a bow at TIFF for ‘The Last Showgirl’
-
Man charged with homicide in killing of gymnastics champion Kara Welsh
-
Are we moving toward a cashless, checkless society?