THE GURU

ACL Tear

KNEE

 STRUCTURE
Ligament

s CONCERN
Moderate

} PERIOD
6 -12 months

t 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

2 main options:

1. Surgical: called a reconstruction – mostly done by getting tendon from somewhere in your body and forming a new ligament from that tendon. Its more common to reconstruct if you are playing high level sport, if there is a cartilage tear (meniscus) or if your knee is super wobbly/unstable. Will need 12 months of rehab under the care of a physio.

2. Conservative: There is a growing body (excuse the pun) of evidence that indicates that waiting for 3-6 months after you’ve busted your ACL may lead to some/lots of healing of the ligament and/or enough stability that you can avoid surgery. Which is weird. But bodies are weird, so don’t get your knickers in a knot – talk to your physio.

One thing is for sure – you’ll need strength. Lots of it. In thigh, hamstring and gluteal muscles. Either way you go, a physio is key to help you navigate the best plan for you and your knee.

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.

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