When you think of an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tear or injury, you might think of sports injuries. And, you wouldn’t be wrong. ACL tears commonly affect basketball players, soccer players, cheerleaders, and gymnasts. Approximately 70% of ACL tears in sports are noncontact injuries while 30% are direct contact. There are around 200,000 ACL injuries diagnosed in the United States each year and estimated that there are 95,000 ruptures of the ACL and 100,000 ACL reconstructions performed per year in the United States.
While ACL tears are an injury that mostly affects athletes, nonathletes can also experience an ACL tear due to an accident during an activity.
Your recovery may be a long road (6 to 9 months). You want to make sure you have access to everything you need to speed up the process safely. Your Physical Therapist will be with you every step of the way. The PTs at FYZICAL Oklahoma City are especially ready for your ACL tear. We use our 5-point Safety Overhead System (SOS) to ensure that you can be safely challenged. The last thing you want is a fall during therapy that sets your recovery back. Our SOS is rated for up to 450 pounds and allows us to push you to your max without worrying about a fall. It also allows us to be more creative with your therapy. If you are going to spend months with us, let's at least have some fun.
At FYZICAL Oklahoma City, we are with you every step of the way until we are sure you are at your optimal functioning. Your PT will create a customized treatment program tailored just for you!
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What is an ACL Tear?
The ACL is one of the major, strongest bands of tissue. It connects the thigh bone to the shin bone at the knee joint. ACL injuries or tears most commonly occur during activities or sports that involve sudden stops or a change in direction. Signs that you have torn or injured your ACL are:
- Suddenly shift your weight from one leg to the other
- Experience a direct hit to the knee
- Stretch the knee farther than its usual range of motion
Another sign that you might have an ACL tear is if you hear a loud pop or feel a popping sensation in your knee. Your knee may also swell, feel unstable, and also become too painful to bear weight.
If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, seek immediate care. The knee joint is a complex structure of bones, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues that work together. It's important to get a prompt and accurate diagnosis to determine the severity of the injury and get proper treatment.
After a diagnosis is complete, a decision will be made by your treatment team on what the next steps may look like, surgery or not.
You just need to get started with an evaluation, today!
The treatment plan for an ACL Tear
Most people who experience an ACL tear will undergo surgery to repair the knee. There is also a group of people called the copers, that don't need surgery due to the significance of the tear. Your treatment team will help you determine if rehabilitation without surgery is the best option for you.
Treatment without surgery: There is a specific group of patients that have the potential to heal without surgery following an ACL tear. If you fall into this category, you have only injured the ACL, and haven't experienced any issues of the knee giving out following the initial symptoms or signs of the injury. After your physical therapist will conduct some specific tests, will use the results from the tests to design and implement a plan just for you.
Treatment before and after surgery: If your treatment team ultimately decides it is necessary for you and your physical therapist will and can work with you before and after surgery. Just like in sports, you need teammates that you can count on. Your Physical Therapists at FYZICAL Oklahoma City, are the type of teammates you need with you on your road to recovery. Your PT will help and assist you decrease the swelling, and increasing the range of movement of your knee while strengthening your thigh muscles all in preparation for your surgery.
After surgery, your PT will do an initial evaluation and assessment of you to develop a treatment plan that addresses your needs and goals. The treatment program post-surgery for an ACL tear may include:
- Icing and Compression
- Range of Motion exercises
- Balance Exercises
- Bearing Weight
And as athletes regain strength and balance, they may begin to ultimately return to sports and activities. This phase varies greatly from person to person.
Clinical Director, Dr. Lauren Peterson of FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City talks about ACL Physical Therapy. Here at FYZICAL, we utilize our safety overhead harnesses system that allows us to challenge you more so than other physical therapy clinics. If you are scared about your leg giving out on you again or a little hesitant to do your therapy or exercises, we are here to have no fear. We can hook you up in one of our harnesses so that there's no falling and reinjuring your knee.
Isn’t it time you called your Oklahoma City Physical Therapists to see what FYZICAL can do for you? CALL FYZICAL
No matter the reason for your knee pain, if you are ready to Love Your Life, then you're ready to start physical therapy today! Give us a call or schedule your appointment.
-FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City provides orthopedic physical therapy in Lakeside, The Village, Nichols Hills, and surrounding NW Oklahoma City. Our physical therapists are specially trained to treat all types of pain, movement disorders, and musculoskeletal dysfunction including post-surgical recovery from ACL Tear. Our practitioners take a patient-centered individualized approach that focuses on your health needs. If you are unsure about your pain, or you want to see the FYZICAL Difference for yourself, schedule a free consultation today.