SOMA Living April 2022

FROM THE DOCTOR

ACL TEAR

The knee, although it is a simple joint can have a lot of injuries. The most common injury of this joint is an injury to the ACL or anterior cruciate ligament. It can be torn or sprained as is common for most ligaments in the body. Tears are the more severe injury which require surgery usually. Athletes who participate in high demand sports like soccer, football, and basketball are more likely to injure their anterior cruciate ligaments. Depending on the activity level of the athlete or person injured as well as severity of the injury will determine if surgery is needed or not. A sprain to the ACL is less severe. Half of all injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament occur along with damage to other structures in the knee, such as articular cartilage, meniscus, or other ligaments. These injuries can be painful and restrict activity. Injured ligaments are considered “sprains” and are graded on a severity scale. Grade 1 Sprains: The ligament is mildly damaged in a Grade 1 Sprain. It has been slightly stretched, but is still able to help keep the knee joint stable. Grade 2 Sprains: A Grade 2 Sprain stretches the ligament to the point where it becomes loose. This is often referred to as a partial tear of the ligament. Grade 3 Sprains: This type of sprain is most commonly referred to as a complete tear of the ligament. The ligament has been split into two pieces, and the knee joint is unstable. Partial tears of the anterior cruciate ligament are rare; most ACL injuries are complete or near complete tears. A tear of the ACL can happen in many different ways such as changing direction rapidly, stopping suddenly, slowing down while running, landing incorrectly when jumping and a direct collision to the knee which usually happens during a football tackle. There are also studies that have been published that put females more at risk for ACL injury due to a number of factors such as strength, conditioning, neuromuscular control, pelvic and leg alignment putting stress on the ligaments and hormones. Symptoms of this condition will usually result in the patient hearing or feeling a “pop” followed by your knee giving out. There is usually swelling, tenderness along the joint line, loss of ROM. The pain and swelling will go away with rest but more severe injury may happen if the athlete returns too soon. Treatment of this condition will vary depending on if there is surgery or no surgery. A torn ACL will not heal without surgery. But nonsurgical treatment may be effective for patients who are elderly or have a very low activity level. If the overall stability of the knee is intact, your doctor may recommend simple, nonsurgical options. The first simple option is a knee brace to provide stability. To further protect your knee, you may be given crutches to keep you from putting weight on your leg. Physical therapy is another option as the swelling decreases it is common to build up strength to improve the stability of the knee. When surgery is an option most ACL tears cannot be sutured (stitched) back together. To surgically repair the ACL and restore knee stability, the ligament must be reconstructed. Your doctor will replace your torn ligament with a tissue graft. Grafts can be obtained from several sources. Often they are taken from the patellar tendon, which runs between the kneecap and the shinbone. Hamstring tendons at the back of the thigh are a common source of grafts. Sometimes a quadriceps tendon, which runs from the kneecap into the thigh, is used. Finally, cadaver graft (allograft) can be used. There are advantages and disadvantages to all graft sources. You should discuss graft choices with your own orthopedic surgeon to help determine which is best for the patient. Since regrowth takes time, it may be six months or more before an athlete can return to sports after surgery. Physical therapy is required and a strict protocol is followed to restore mobility, increase strength and the final phase is return to sporting activity. South Orange rehab and wellness is always available to talk with anyone about their current situation.

South Orange Rehabilitation & Wellness We provide professional, individualized and effective physical therapy. Our health and wellness interventions promote healthy living and enhanced quality of life for all athletes and patients.

Specializing in: • Post Surgical Knee & Shoulder • Spinal Decompression for Herniated and Bulging Discs • Cold Laser to Increase Healing

SouthOrangeRehab.com (973) 761-0077 177 Valley Street, South Orange, New Jersey 07079

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Dr. Daniel Roig South Orange Rehab Wellness SouthOrangeRehab.com 973-761-0077

15 Scotland Road in South Orange, NJ

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APRIL 2022 | SOMA LIVING 15

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