An ACL Tear occurs when the Anterior Cruciate Ligament is stretched beyond its physiological limits. This causes a partial or complete rupture of the collagen fibres that form the ligament.
Let us understand about the ACL first.
It is one of the major ligaments inside the knee which connects thighbone to shinbone (femur to tibia). It makes the knee stable by preventing excessive forward movement of the shinbone (tibia) in relation to the thighbone (femur). It is also important for rotational stability during jumping, running and all other movements in sports.
When the ACL tears, rapid swelling or hemarthrosis takes place due to the blood vessels within the ligament rupturing too. It bleeds into the knee joint and this injury causes the ligament to lose mechanism of function and leads to instability in the leg region.
The ACL Tear can be classified as:
The severity of the condition affects the symptoms and also determines prognosis treatment.
If symptoms of an ACL Tear are detected early, it becomes easy to treat it. Some typical features of an ACL Tear include:
Other associated injuries can commonly occur. These can be:
These symptoms can be varied and determine the course of action for the physician.
An ACL Tear can occur due to non-contact as well as contact forces during dynamic movements. It is a very common injury for athletes and out of the two types, non-contact forces are a more common causative agent.
The non-contact cases include:
Direct contact cases can include collision during sports.
These conditions can put high torsional or shear stress on the ACL ligament. Which can make it tear.
The treatment options can vary depending upon the severity of the ACL Tear. You should consult your healthcare provider and discuss the treatment plan according to the diagnosis.
You can opt for the following Treatments under the guidance of your doctor:
Immediately after the injury has occurred, you should follow the RICE protocol.
Following this advice can reduce swelling and pain along with decreased chances of tear progression.
The non-surgical management of an ACL Tear is appropriate mostly for mild sprains and partial or low grade tears. In older or less active individuals also it is commonly used as the primary treatment plan.
The non-surgical care include:
It is important to keep in mind that a fully torn ACL cannot recover on its own due to poor blood supply.
The surgical treatments of ACL Tear can include:
Although both these treatment plans can be considered after consulting your doctor, an ACL reconstruction is still the gold standard for most full tear cases.
| ACL Repair | ACL Reconstruction |
|---|---|
| Stitching of the torn ACL back together using an implant or brace. | The torn ligament is removed or replaced with a graft from the patient’s own tendon. |
| Higher overall risk | More durable and lower risk |
| Recovers in less time | Longer time for the graft to heal to the bone |
| Used in acute tear cases | Mostly in complete ACL tears for athletes |
Prehab is short for prehabilitation which aims towards health and physical preparation before a planned approach towards circumstances like surgery, injury risks or sports activities.
The term prehab also means preventive rehabilitation in therapy and injury and includes targeted exercises and training that decrease the chance of future injuries and help the body move better and stronger.
After your ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is torn and before you go for surgery, you can go for ACL Tear physiotherapy so that you can reduce pain and swelling and even improve post-surgery healing.
Advantages of physiotherapy for ACL Tear before surgery are:
Research shows that 4-6 weeks of prehab before ACL reconstruction can improve early strength and motion after surgery and may increase the chance of returning to sport at your desired level.
The following exercises are helpful in reducing pain and swelling after a torn ACL and improving post-operative complications.
Glute Bridges provide indirect support to the knee joints because weak hips and glutes can also cause knee pain.
How is it done?
Key Benefits:
Calf stretch can improve flexibility and mobility because tight calves can restrict movements and cause pain in the legs.
How is it done?
Key Benefits:
Hamstring stretch also improves flexibility and enhances mobilization because tight hamstrings can make daily activities like walking and bending very difficult tasks.
How is it done?
Key Benefits:
Straight leg raises are especially helpful when climbing stairs becomes painful by making leg muscles strong without putting much pressure on the knees.
How is it done?
Key Benefits:
Quadriceps Sets help strengthen these muscles and give supporting and stable legs.The large muscles in the front region of the thigh are called quadriceps. It is crucial to keep these muscles healthy and strong for normal movements.
How is it done?
Key Benefits:
Swimming or doing aquatic exercises improve overall fitness and health by reducing strain on the muscles.
How is it done?
Key Benefits:
Also Read: Physiotherapy For Back Pain ; Physiotherapy For Knee Pain
Following precautions should be taken before starting physiotherapy exercises for acl tear before surgery:
Consult a physiotherapist in cases of severe tears, fractures or recent surgery beforehand.
Also Read: Physiotherapy For Joint Pain ; Physiotherapy For Disc Burge
You can start acl tear physiotherapy before surgery as soon as you start experiencing pain and swelling in the knees. You should consult your doctor before starting and during physiotherapy to do required and guided movements only so that it does not worsen your condition.
This is crucial because:
The best results come from a guided program with a physical therapist, tailored to your specific situation.
Resolve360’s physiotherapy for acl tear before surgery program combines expertise, convenience and a natural approach to healing.
Our platform Resolve360 offers safe and reliable ACL Tear Physiotherapy keeping in mind your specific requirements. Your trust is our biggest asset and we promise to be with you till the end of your healing journey.
Join us today and book your consultation now.
A complete ACL Tear cannot heal completely on its own because of low blood supply but it can be treated with surgeries and lower grade cases can be managed with conservative care that include physiotherapy for ACL Tear.
Physiotherapy for ACL tear before surgery helps in reducing post-op complications, faster recovery and patient might even manage without surgery if
Yes some people can walk with an ACL tear but you should try not to put stress on your knee after it has been hurt. Rest and only start movements after proper diagnosis has been done.
Physiotherapy for ACL tear focuses on restoring knee mobility and range of motion along with its functionalities.
Yes. You can do ACL Tear physiotherapy at home with online platforms like Resolve360 that guide and instruct you throughout your healing journey.
Dr. Nidhi Kumari
She has persuaded her bachelor’s from SGT University, Gurugram, she has done her internship at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and persuade her Master in Physiotherapy from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. She has previously worked with Orthocure clinic, Dr.Nasir physiotherapy rehabilitation, Quantum physiotherapy, and wellness center.
If you have more questions.
Dr. Nidhi
She has persuaded her bachelor’s from SGT University, Gurugram, she has done her internship at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and persuade her Master in Physiotherapy from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. She has previously worked with Orthocure clinic, Dr.Nasir physiotherapy rehabilitation, Quantum physiotherapy, and wellness center.
If you have more questions.
Also Read: Back Pain: Causes and Treatment
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We are your doctor’s first choice and trusted by 50,000+ patients.
We are your doctor’s first choice and trusted by 50,000+ patients.
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