ACL Injuries and Prevention

Orthopedic Treatments for ACL Injuries  

You may not think much about your knees until an ACL injury makes every movement a challenge. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) plays a vital role in stabilizing your knee while walking, running, jumping and pivoting. When injured, it can impact not just your performance on the field but also your ability to move confidently in daily life. Without proper treatment, an ACL tear can lead to long-term instability, pain and even problems in surrounding joints like the hips and ankles. Our orthopedic team can help you recover with a personalized plan focused on restoring your strength, stability and movement.  

What is an ACL Injury? 

An ACL injury is a tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament, a key band of tissue that connects your thigh bone (femur) to your shinbone (tibia). These injuries are most common in sports that involve sudden stops, quick changes in direction, jumping and landing. 

Signs and Symptoms of an ACL Injury Generally Include: 

• A loud pop or popping sensation in the knee 
• Severe pain and inability to continue the activity  
• Rapid swelling 
• Loss of range of motion 
• A feeling of instability with weight bearing  

“Unfortunately, ACL injuries are an all-too-common occurrence with physical and sporting activities, stated Dr. Sean Calloway, Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the knee and shoulder. “The knee is in its most vulnerable position when it is slightly flexed (bent) and turning inward. When a person comes into my clinic with concerns for an ACL tear, the two biggest things I look for are a description of feeling a pop in the knee with a twisting injury and swelling that happens almost immediately after the injury.” 

What Causes an ACL Injury  

Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect one bone to another. The ACL, one of two ligaments that cross in the middle of the knee, connects your thighbone to your shinbone and helps stabilize your knee joint. When a ligament is damaged, there is usually a partial or complete tear of the tissue. A mild injury may stretch the ligament but leave it intact. ACL injuries often happen during sports and fitness activities that put stress on the knee: 

• Suddenly slowing down and changing direction  
• Pivoting with your foot planted 
• Landing awkwardly from a jump 
• Stopping suddenly  
• Receiving a direct blow to the knee or having a collision, such as a football tackle.  

Risk Factors 

Several factors increase your risk of an ACL injury, including: 

• Being female, possibly due to differences in anatomy, muscle strength and hormonal influences 
• Poor conditioning 
• Sports such as soccer, basketball, football and skiing 
• Wearing footwear that does not fit properly  
• Playing on artificial turf 

Prevention 

No one wants to be sidelined with an ACL injury. Ankle sprains and injuries to the knee, particularly tears to the ACL, are common in young athletes. The good news is that there are many ways to prevent injury and save yourself from missing valuable playing time. You can learn how to move in correct alignment to protect your knees and develop body awareness, strength and balance to support your knees and ankles. Successful injury prevention programs may differ in specific exercises and drills, but they share a common focus: improving flexibility, strength, balance, agility and your ability to jump and land safely.  

“While there is no way to 100% avoid an ACL tear, there are several things you can do to minimize the risk of having this type of injury,” stated Dr. Calloway. “The most important factor, in my mind, is appropriate training before physical activity. Younger athletes, especially adolescent girls, tend to have weaker hips and core muscles. This can put more stress on the knee and put it in a vulnerable position with cutting/pivoting activities. Also, having coaches and trainers who can implement a good warm-up plan can go a long way to preventing sports-related injuries.” 

Avoiding ACL Tears 

The most important things to keep in mind are to:  

• Jump, land, stop and move with your knees directly over your feet. 
• Don’t let your knees collapse inward.  
• Develop strength in your hips and thighs. 
• Warm up and stretch before games and practices. 

The best way to develop good form is to perform a variety of drills until the movement patterns are second nature and you don’t have to think about it. While exercising or doing the drills, keep these thoughts in mind:  

• Keep your chest high and over your knees 
• Bend from the hips and knees 
• Keep your knees over your toes 
• Point toes straight forward 
• Land as lightly as possible  

By consistently practicing proper movement techniques and building strength and stability, you can significantly reduce your risk of ACL injuries and stay in the game longer.  

Gear 

Wearing footwear and padding that is appropriate for your sport helps prevent injury. For example, if you downhill ski, make sure your ski bindings are adjusted correctly by a trained professional so that your skis will release if you fall. Wearing a knee brace does not appear to prevent an ACL injury or reduce the risk of recurring injury after surgery.  

Contact Us 

If knee pain is slowing you down, Forté Sports Medicine & Orthopedics is here to help. Our specialists in Carmel, Greenwood, Mooresville, Noblesville or Tipton, IN can pinpoint the cause and get you back to moving pain-free. Don’t ignore the pain! Take care of it now so it doesn’t turn into something worse. Contact us today.