At Fixio, we excel in treatment targeted at the ACL or the anterior cruciate ligament. With the major population of the northern beaches being athletic, there will always be knee injuries and the ACL is no exception. The ACL functions to stabilise the joint. Injury usually occurs when excessive stress is placed on the knee, stretching the ligament beyond its limits. This excess for can cause the ACL to tear or rupture.
Injury doesn’t always involve someone tackling you but a simple change in movement creating pressure around the area. An example would be suddenly from a jump or twisting quickly with a planted foot. It’s most common among athletes because of the twisting nature of sports and the greater stress placed on their bodies during these activities.
Injuries are higher among contact sports such as in the AFL, soccer and netball. The extreme athleticism and the required endurance levels that is required for athletes, exposes the knee to potential harm. It’s therefore not surprising that common injuries such as ACL tears and those similar occur.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF AN ACL INJURY?
- At the time of injury, a popping sensation is often described
- Knee instability or feeling like it’s about to give way
- Immediate pain
- Swelling of the knee (usually within 1-4 hours)
- Difficulty walking
- Loss of movement in the knee
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT TEARS?
- Female gender
- Aged between 15 and 45
- Sports involving pivoting/cutting/stepping
- Wearing inappropriate footwear that doesn’t fit properly
- Previously torn ACL
- Not completing a full rehab post ACL injury
DIFFERENT TYPES OF KNEE INJURIES & WHERE FIXIO CAN HELP?
There are also other factors that affect the patient’s recovery and how much physiotherapy is needed, so situations can differ. The following are some of the most common knee injuries, the treatment needed and how long the healing usually takes:
- Grade ACL I Sprain.
Symptoms are at their mildest. The ligament has been stretched but managed to not tear. The knee remains stable but is sensitive to touch with some pain and redness. In this case, the knee does not require surgery but there might be some swelling.
Mobility could be hindered to some extent. Rest, medication for the inflammation and ice are usually the only treatment needed for this injury with crutches for support when walking. Fixio’s ACL can hasten recovery. The healing period lasts from 1-2 weeks.
- Grade ACL II Sprain.
The patient suffers from a partially torn AC ligament. Swelling reaches moderate levels with some tenderness. Pain normally dissipates but the affected knee may emit the feeling of collapsing with use. It’s an uncommon case because rips tend to split right though the ligament.
Knee braces would be needed for support during the first part of recovery as well as rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication. Reconstruction would be decided based on the afflicted person’s severity of symptoms, activeness of lifestyle, age, and fitness goals.
Knee physiotherapy exercises would aid the patient regain strength and mobility. Recovery time averages 4-12 weeks but some cases take longer which can be prevented with the guidance of our physiotherapists at Fixio. Athletes can return to their sport once the knee is stable, and movement becomes painless again.
- Grade ACL III Sprain.
This is the most common and the most severe level for this kind of injury in the sports industry. In this scenario, the ACL has been torn entirely. Pain is severe and so is swelling and redness, though there have been rare cases where these symptoms weren’t present.
The knee is completely unstable and reconstructive surgery is necessary in most situations to remain active for sports. Either crutches or knee braces will be needed for walking during the early stages of recovery. It’s not ideal to keep the knee immobile for more than a week as some mobility aids in speeding up the healing.
Surgery may not be necessary if the athlete no longer plans to return to the sport but is recommended for better and speedier recovery because it can easily take much longer due to the severity. However, there are conservative ways to treat an ACL rupture and your Fixio physio will talk thorough all your options so you can make the right call to get back to your sport.
Swelling will begin to lessen once the ACL starts to heal while pain and discomfort will also dissipate after 4 weeks. Yet, it will take approximately 6-18+ months before the athlete can return to their sport.
HOW OFTEN WILL I NEED TO SEE MY PHYSIOTHERAPIST AFTER AN ACL TEAR FOR ACL PHYSIO REHAB?
During the first 6-8 weeks, your physiotherapist will likely see you 1-2 times per week, depending on your progress. After this, your appointments will likely decrease to fortnightly and then monthly, based on your progression.
How long does ACL physio rehab take?
Recovery and rehabilitation depend on multiple factors and can vary between individuals, along with the severity of the injury.
Factors that can affect recovery time include:
- Age of patient
- Severity of Injury
- Activity level of patient
- Physical condition of the patient
- Desired outcome of the patient
- Surgical vs. conservative management
WHEN CAN I RETURN TO SPORT AFTER AND ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT TEAR? HOW CAN PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR AN ACL INJURY HELP?
Due to the high risk of re-injuring an anterior cruciate ligament tear, returning to sport is milestone based rather than based on a particular time frame. The time taken to return to sport after suffering an ACL injury is usually 9-12 months, however this can vary depending on severity. Before returning to sport, your physiotherapist will perform a comprehensive assessment using our ForceDecks – which is the latest state of the art technology to give you all the measures you need to return to your sport.
The exact ACL physio exercises vary on a case-by-case basis so it’s advisable to see a knee physiotherapist for a proper assessment. For those who have experienced an ACL injury in the past, there is the likelihood that it can happen again so be aware of how your knees feel and take care with the activities you undertake.
Consult with highly skilled physio’s on how to minimise any stress placed on your knees, such as learning, or re-learning the right way to land from a jump. For more information about ACL tears, surgery and recovery contact our team!
