Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear
By Michelle Duclos, ATC
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear or ACL Tear
This injury, ACL tears, is a tearing of the ACL ligament in the knee joint. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is one of the bands of tissue that connects the femur to the tibia. ACL tears can be painful and it can cause the knee to become unstable. The ACL is one of the major stabilizing ligaments in the knee. It prevents the tibia (Shin bone) moving abnormally on the femur (thigh bone). Furthermore, when this abnormal movement is known as instability. The knee is unstable because of the laxity to the ligaments.
ACL tear
ACL Tears
Tears or sprain to the ACL Ligament is a serious injury. The injury usually occurs with a mechanism of planting the foot and a cutting type motion. However, there have been some injuries which occur just with stopping or starting to run. With the ACL injury, an injury could also occur to the medial meniscus and medial collateral ligament tea. This injury is know as an unhappy triad injury.
The surgical technique for this instability is an ACL reconstruction. The ACL ligament is harvested from the patellar tendon or the hamstring tendon of the patient. The patient may also choose a cadaver graft.
ACL Tear Rehab
Physical Therapy after an ACL Reconstruction is a major rehab for the knee. Usually, it takes 5-6 months for the athlete to return to fully participation. At JOI Rehab, our therapist worked with our JOI Surgeons, to develop ACL Rehab Protocols. Our goal is a full return to your prior level of function.
Want to learn more about the knee? Please go to:
Knee Anatomy
Please watch this video if you want to learn more about the anatomy of the knee and injuries.
JOI and JOI Rehab
JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.
You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.
To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.