Common Sports Injuries – Tearing Your ACL

Tearing your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is one of the most common sports knee injuries plaguing athletes like you. If you’re involved in sports you most likely know people who have suffered from ACL injuries or perhaps you have suffered from this common knee injury. Tearing your ACL can happen several ways. During contact sports it’s the ACL can be injured when an athlete has his foot planted and is struck with a direct force to the knee. You don’t have to be an athlete to injure your ACL. One of the most common ways to injure your ACL is during a twisting or pivoting maneuver. Sometimes a "pop" can be heard at the time of injury. When the injury occurs, you are unable to continue performing the activity that they were doing when the injury occurred. Swelling may occur within the first couple of hours.

To better understand why tearing your ACL is so common, it helps to understand the mechanics of the ACL. The anterior cruciate ligament prevents the tibia (shin bone) from sliding forward and rotating on the femur (thigh bone). The anterior cruciate ligament is one of four ligaments that are critical to the stability of the knee joint. It is located at the center of the knee, and works together with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) to help stabilize the knee joint.

A torn ACL is a common sports knee injuries. However, it’s important to consult with your doctor if you think you’re suffering from a torn ACL. An ACL tear is usually diagnosed with an accurate history and physical examination. Associated injuries may include additional ligament sprains, articular cartilage damage, and meniscal tears. X-rays help to determine if there are any fractures or underlying arthritis. A magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) may be used to confirm the presence of an ACL tear and any further knee damage. The treating physician will determine appropriate diagnostic tests.