ACL knee injury experts in Spring Hill
So you think you may have injured your ACL. Your first stop should be visiting an experienced ACL physio.
Your Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a ligament that sits inside your knee. It prevents your Tibia (Shin Bone) and Femur (Thigh Bone) from separating apart.
It is the most common knee injury in the athletic population. The cause of ACL rupture is usually the result of running and cutting/stepping activities in sport. This is when your ACL is put under the most stress.
It is particularly common in sports where this movement happens a lot such as Netball, Basketball, AFL, Soccer, Rugby Union, Rugby League, and Touch rugby.
It’s also seen in activities like water and snow skiing due to the rapidly changing directions and environments.
Unfortunately when we compare the rate of injury the research shows that females and 3 to 1 more likely to rupture their ACL compared with males.
As an athlete, you will typically feel a snapping sensation and your knee buckling during the game or training. Generally, this will result in immediate pain and swelling. If a physiotherapist is at the game this would be the best time to assess the ACL integrity before further swelling and muscle guarding kicks in.
You should immediately get your knee into a brace and get around with a pair of crutches. If you need either of those give us a call and we will be able to loan you a pair.
The best course of action following your injury is to get it assessed by a experienced ACL physio. If we think it’s likely you have a tear we have a personal relationship with Brisbane’s top knee surgeon.
We can organise an immediate referral from our team of in-house doctors to the specialist. From there we can contact their office organise you an appointment get a referral for an MRI.
The faster we can get a clear diagnosis and recovery plan the quicker we can get you back doing what you love.
The most common treatment is to undergo surgery. It’s generally recommended over non-surgical options if you want to get back to competitive or demanding sports safely.
Furthermore, the majority of ACL ruptures also result in a full rupture of the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and a tear of the medial meniscus (your cartilage). In contrast to the healing time of your ACL, these injuries won’t overly affect your rehabilitation time frames.
After surgery, the rehabilitation road is 9-12 months. This is guided us as your physiotherapist and reviewed by your surgeon.
It comprises initially of getting you back up and moving then moving towards improving your balance, the range of motion and building your strength. In the later stages of rehabilitation if heavy focused on preparation towards return you to sport and minimizing the risk of re-injury.
On a positive note, our team has been trained in the latest science being used with the worlds top athletes to significantly minimise their risk of ACL and knee injuries.
Whether you have just injured your knee, just had surgery and are looking to minimise your future risk. Come on in a see the Expert ACL Physio’s at Spring Physio and Rehab in Spring Hill.
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