Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located within your knee joint and connects to the tibia (shin bone) and the femur (thigh bone). It helps control the backward and forward movement at your knee joint, so that the joint remains stable and the bones don’t slide forwards or backwards on one another. It is one of four primary stabilising ligaments of the knee.
When the ACL is injured, it may be a simple sprain, a partial tear, or even a complete rupture. It is essential to know the extent of your injury so that treatment can be maximally effective.
ACL injuries are often sustained in sports and physical activities. They are more common in females, which may be due to differences in muscle strength, control and conditioning. Causes can include:
Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the injury, and can include:
Initially, it’s important to stop physical activity and avoid walking on the affected knee where possible. Resting, elevating and icing the knee can help reduce the initial pain and swelling.
If you have ruptured or torn your ACL, you may require surgery. It’s important that you have a diagnosis to confirm the extent of your injury, which may involve having an ultrasound, x-ray or MRI imaging.
Under the care of our knowledgeable podiatrists here at South Burnett, we’ll work to:
To achieve this, we may:
Every treatment plan is unique and tailored specifically to you, your symptoms, circumstances and assessment findings. Our goal is always to deliver the best outcomes for you so you can stay active and mobile, to keep doing the things you love.