Symptoms Of Acl Injuries

By Author: Rob Thomas
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Anterior cruciate ligament injuries or ACL injuries are the over-stretching or rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. A rupture can either be complete or incomplete. The knee shares certain similarities to a hinge joint and is located at the junction, where the end of the thigh bone (femur) meets the top of the shin bone (tibia). There are 4 major ligaments that connect these two bones. They are listed as follows:

Lateral Collateral ligament- It runs on the outer part of the knee and prevents the knee from bending outward.
Medical Collateral Ligament- runs on the inner side and prevents the knee from bending inwards
Posterior cruciate Ligament- It works with the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). It prevents the tibia from sliding under the femur.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament- It lies in the middle of the knee. It usually stops the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur and provides rotational stability to the knee.

The PCL and the ACL cross each other within the knee which forms a cross-like structure and hence called cruciate ligaments. The ACL injuries often occur with other ...
... kinds of injuries. Usually, the ACL ruptures with MCL and medical meniscus (one of the shock absorbing cartilages). This injury is prominent amongst skiers and football players. It is more common in women than men. This is mainly because of the difference in anatomy and muscle function. The ruptures may occur due to non-contact or contact. A single injury to the side of the knee during football may result in ACL injuries. There are other causes too. When coming to a quick stop combined with sudden change in the direction while running, landing from a jump, pivoting can also cause injury to the ACL.

There are numerous symptoms of ACL injuries. Some of them are listed as below:

Pain on the outside and back of the knee.
Feeling or hearing a pop in the knee at the time of the injury.
Limited knee movement because of swelling or pain or both.
The knee feeling unstable, giving out or buckling
The knee swelling within the first few hours of the injury. This is usually the sign of internal bleeding. If there is a swelling, it is a sign of serious injury.

Although ACL injuries are serious, it is treatable though. It can be treated through the method of R.I.C.E.R. It is an acronym that stands for R=Rest, I=Ice, C=Compression, E=Elevation and R=referral for appropriate medical treatment. There are two points which are very important:

1.Rest- Once ACL is diagnosed, it is important to give the knee sufficient rest. Any movement can worsen the condition.
2.Ice- The basics of first aid. The application of ice will work wonders to reduce swelling, bleeding and the pain.
There are minor differences in the injury patterns of children and women. Adults usually pull the ligament off the femur bone and children usually tear the ACL with the piece of bone attached.
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