Saquon Barkley suffered a devastating season ending injury that is unfortunately all too common in sports. We wish him a speedy recovery.
One of the most common knee injuries is a sprain or tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL is one of the four major ligaments of the knee and it helps provide knee stability during activities. Athletes who play sports involving cutting, pivoting, jumping, and sudden stops are at higher risk of ACL injuries. These include sports such as football, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, gymnastics and downhill skiing. Several studies have shown that female athletes are also at higher risk of ACL injuries compared to male athletes.
Many people experience their knee buckle and may hear or feel a “pop” in the knee when an ACL rupture occurs. Knee swelling within the first few hours after the injury is also common.
If you have a knee injury, it is important to have a thorough evaluation by a doctor of physical therapy. About 50% of ACL injuries occur in combination with damage to another knee structure, such as the meniscus, other ligaments, or articular cartilage. Your doctor of physical therapy can help determine possible injured structures and recommended course of care.
Referral to an orthopedist for further assessment and possible imaging, in conjunction with physical therapy, may be recommended.
Treatment for an ACL injury may include surgical or non-surgical options, depending on the extent of the injury, your activity level, and the amount of instability during these activities. Physical therapy is a crucial part of rehabilitation for both surgical and non-surgical treatment.
Regardless of whether or not you need surgery we recommend that you choose your physical therapy facility wisely as they are not all created equal. And while it may be tempting to choose the facility that is nearest your home or the least expensive you should consider other more important factors such as the amount of direct one on one time with a doctor of physical therapy and the training and credentials of the clinical staff.
At ProFysio, our clinicians have the expertise and are afforded the time they need to apply those skills so that our patients receive maximum therapeutic benefit and ultimately return to the activities they love.
It’s important to note that research suggests that certain neuromuscular and proprioceptive training programs can help prevent ACL and lower extremity injuries in athletes for certain sports. A doctor of physical therapy can help implement these exercises into a team’s warm up to help prevent injuries. An individual athlete can also be assessed for musculoskeletal risk factors that can be addressed to decrease risk of injury.
If you would like more information about physical therapy for injury prevention or treatment after a knee injury, call ProFysio Physical Therapy for a free one-on-one consultation.
