THE GURU
ACL Tear
STRUCTURE
Ligament
CONCERN
Moderate
PERIOD
6 -12 months
ALT DIAGNOSIS
Meniscal tear
What is an ACL tear?
Your anterior cruciate ligament stabilises your thigh bone on the shin bone. It has a particular role in making your knee stable when you rotate your leg when moving. Tearing your ACL can feel like your knee goes ‘the wrong way’ or like its going to collapse and often felt with a ‘pop’ or a ‘crack’. If you’ve played any sport, you have probably heard about ACL tears and that they are the worst-injury-to-ever-get-in-the-history-of-mankind. Untrue. But, they are not much fun either. Good news is, we physios know lots about them and have lots of ways of helping.
Why do ACL tears happen?
Often they happen without ‘contact’, a classic ACL injury is: running > changing direction > feeling a pop + immediate pain and a feeling of instability. But it can happen in a tackle (soccer, rugby, AFL) or when hyperextending (mountain biking, martial arts) or skiing (frozen binding + tired muscles then a knee twist). Happens more in female athletes, in ball sports, in younger populations and more risk if your family has an ACL problem – bless your parents and their dodgy knees.
What can you do about an ACL tear? ACL Physiotherapy in Newacastle
How long will an ACL tear take?
If you have surgery its best not to return to sport until 12 months post-op. But you’ll probably start walking Day1-2 after the operation and most reco’s feel like they’re doing better at 6-8 wks post op. If you don’t have surgery you may be able to return to sport at around 6 months if you can pass the tests with your physio. This will involve some jumps, hops, strength testing and swallowing a sword whilst juggling 3 hand grenades.
Bright-tips
Sometimes there are other considerations with an ACL rupture: If you haven’t finished growing – it might mean you don’t have surgery immediately, and if you do – might need Dad’s tendon to do the reconstruction (Geez!). If you’ve done a messy job on your meniscus – sometimes that means it needs to be repaired – might mean crutches for 6 wks. If you have the ‘unhappy triad’ which is your ACL rupture + MCL tear + meniscus tear – you’re more likely to need surgery with this delightful trinity of pain.
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If pain persists, you may require the help of a professional physio. Contact Brightside Physio to make an appointment.
FIND US
Brightside Physio
90 Elder St
Lambton (Newcastle)
NSW 2299
New location!
15 Lambton Rd
Broadmeadow (Newcastle)
NSW 2292
GOOGLE MAPS
PARKING
Find parking via De Vitre Street and walk down side alley to Elder Street entrance.