What is an ACL tear?

What is the ACL?

Many people who play sports often hear the term ACL referred to when sports injuries take place but not everyone knows which part of the body this is. The ACL is the anterior cruciate ligament. There are four ligaments located inside of your knee which act as a rope and hold together the three bones behind the kneecap. The ACL is one of these four ligaments. Without the ACL you would be unable to stabilize your knee.

People who injured their ACL typically tear it. The ACL tear can range from a mild tear to a spring to a complete tearing in half. In the most severe cases surgery is required.

What is a torn ACL?

When you tear your ACL it means that you have sprained it to the second or 3rd°. A first-degree sprain can be rectified with simple at home healing methods such as a brace. But the second and 3rd° requires surgery. If your ACL goes through the front of your knee or if it passes through the center of it, your five own can slip backward which results in a tear. If your ACL is torn you become incredibly unstable and you are typically prone to buckling if you try to plant your legs firmly on the ground and you are also prone to buckling when you try and stop quickly.

If there is a sudden change in direction while you are running, for example, you are running from one base to another after hitting the ball in a baseball game but you stop suddenly to return to your previous base, the immediate care of it and change in direction of your knee can cause a tear. If your knee is locked into position when you stop you have a higher chance of tearing your ACL. If your knee is locked and you try to pick it quickly while stopping it can also cause a tear.

What are the most common symptoms?

The most common symptom for a torn ACL is a large pop in your knee followed by immediate pain and swelling within 24 hours.

Women are at a higher risk of tearing their ACL because their anatomy and muscle function differs from men.

Women have pelvises which are wider then mail pelvises which can cause the femur to meet the tibia at larger angles compared to men. This increases the force that the ACL is able to withstand during a twist. This increased force increases the risk of damage. Genetics can also place women at a higher risk for an ACL injury. The muscles in the female body are generally more elastic and they often decrease the protection to the hamstring in order to provide more protection to the ACL. The hormonal changes caused by menstruation can increase elasticity which can increase the risk of injury. Female hamstrings additionally contract at a slower rate compared to males, by 1 millisecond, which can increase the risk of damage after a woman lands from a jump.

If you experience an ACL tear, it is important that you seek the help of an orthopedic doctor in Phoenix, AZ. He will be able to determine the severity of your ACL injury and develop a treatment plan. To learn more about ACL tears, contact an orthopedic doctor in Phoenix AZ today.


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Keywords: Orthopedic Doctors In Phoenix Az

By: alicelee

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