Torn or damaged ACL's (anterior cruciate ligament) are extremely common in the world of sports. Simply put, the ACL is the tissue at the knee that connects the shinbone to the thighbone. Today we'll dive into what the recovery process looks like for an ACL tear and some informed tips for optimal healing.
Anatomy
First, it's important to understand in more detail exactly where this ligament is so you can be sure it's an ACL injury. There are three bones that form your knee joint- your thighbone, shinbone, and kneecap. Your kneecap sits up front for extra protection. The knee is made up of four main components: bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.
In the graphic below, the kneecap is moved slightly up for a clearer perspective of the underlying anterior cruciate ligament.
Now that we have a better understanding of where things are located, we can move on to the healing aspect and ways to speed up recovery- with cited studies and credible scientific sources.
While there are many different grades of injury to the ACL, the causes are typically the same. Sudden changes in direction, sudden stops, incorrect jump landing and direct collisions are all more than capable of being reasons why an ACL tears or sprains. This is why ACL injuries are more common while playing sports, as it requires intense and sudden movement at the knee joint.
You'll know you've damaged your ACL if you experience any of the following. You may hear a "popping" noise and/or your knee will give out from under you. Within 24 hours, you will experience swelling and instability (needless to say, you should be staying away from sports at this time). You will experience discomfort while walking, but not necessarily pain.
Recovery
In this study, thirty-six individuals post-injury were placed into four treatment groups, each with different varieties of electrical stimulation and rehabilitation exercises post ACL surgery. The results of this longitudinal study showed that, along with eccentric exercises, electrical stimulation (specifically NMES) aided in ACL recovery post-op. Another study from the Center for Knee and Foot Surgery Sports Traumatology Center in Germany reported that rehab results can be sped up by using an electrical impulse to aid the muscle contraction.
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Happy Healing!