ACL Tear Treatment
An ACL tear is a common sports injury involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). You use your ACL to run, jump, cut, and pivot. ACL injuries occur due to abrupt directional changes or force. Active individuals typically need surgery, but in some cases, it’s not necessary.
While the ACL is only about the size of a pencil, it plays a crucial role in stabilizing the knee because of its position between the two longest bones in the body—the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia).
What causes an ACL tear?
ACL tears are one of the most common sports-related knee injuries. They’re caused by pivoting, forceful twisting, or hyperextension in the knee (often due to direct contact or collison). Tears are common in sports like soccer, basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, and skiing which involve changing direction, stopping suddenly, and landing from jumps.
What risk factors make me more likely to tear my ACL?
Muscle imbalances around the knee
Gender (females are more likely due to a wider pelvis and smaller intercondylar notch)
Poor conditioning and improper landing techniques
Uneven or slippery surfaces
Previous ACL injury
Biomechanical factors like knock knees
Sypmtoms of ACL Tears
Many ACL tear patients feel a pop or a buckling sensation in their knee joint.
ACL Injury Diagnosis
ACL Pain Location
Patients often feel pain centered in the middle or back of the knee, where the ACL is located. The pain may be acute at the time of the initial injury and then decrease, but the knee usually still feels unstable when trying to stand or walk. Patients also typically experience rapid swelling which cases stiffness and difficulty bending and straightening the knee.
Orthopaedic Surgeon ACL Exam
Diagnosis of an ACL tear involves a physical examination and patient history. You can expect Dr. Money to ask questions about the history of your injury, how it occurred, symptoms you’ve experienced—popping, swelling, instability, or pain—and previous knee injuries.
MRI or X-ray imaging will indicate the severity of the tear and if there are injuries to other knee areas, such as the meniscus, lateral collateral ligament (LCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), or posterior collateral ligament (PCL). Approximately half of ACL injuries involve injuries to other structures in the knee, these are referred to as multi-ligament knee injuries.
ACL Injury Treatment Options
Treatment options range from physical therapy to surgical reconstruction depending on the severity of the tear and the patient’s age, health, and desired activity level.
Non-Surgical ACL Treatment
Many patients ask: can an ACL heal without surgery? While it can’t reattach or heal itself, ACL tears can be managed non-surgically. Conservative treatment includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE); physical therapy; and bracing. A patient who is older, less active, or uninterested in activities involving pivoting and jumping can have a successful ACL tear recovery with this non-surgical ACL treatment option.
ACL Reconstruction Surgery
Young patients, elite athletes, and patients who want an active lifestyle will most likely require an ACL reconstruction to restore stability and function in the knee joint.
Surgery involves small incisions and is performed with an arthroscope, which is a small, tube-like camera the size of a pencil. The torn ligament is replaced with a tissue graft from your knee, your hamstring, or cadaver tissue. During your visit, Dr. Money will help you weigh these options and prepare you for a successful repair and efficient recovery.
One of the keys to successful ACL reconstruction is optimizing your knee before surgery. Dr. Money often recommends physical therapy before surgery to help patients establish a proper gait, full range of motion through the joint, and no swelling in the knee.
Torn ACL Recovery Time
Dr. Money recommends aggressive physical therapy following surgery. You can expect to start physical therapy the day after surgery and continue at regular intervals for a year.
Many patients resume their regular daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, and general movement around school, work, and home within six weeks. However, full recovery to pre-surgery activity and performance levels typically takes around nine months.
Supporting Your Recovery
As a former collegiate athlete, Dr. Money understands a nine-month recovery from ACL surgery is challenging for athletes—both physically and mentally—as it means time away from the sport you love, often during crucial development and recruiting timelines.
You can expect unique understanding and support as you weigh your options, consider your timeline, and manage your recovery journey.
Schedule an ACL Consultation
Concerned that you tore your ACL? Schedule a visit with Dr. Money at Rothman Orthopeadics Winter Garden, serving Clermont, Ocoee, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, and the greater Orlando area.
FAQs
What does ACL stand for?
Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Where is the ACL?
Knee Joint
What does the ACL do?
The ACL helps stabilize the knee. You use your ACL to run, jump, cut, and pivot.
Can you walk with a torn ACL?
Yes, you can typically walk with a torn ACL, but pain and swelling may limit you, especially immediately after the injury. It is important to consult with an orthopaedic surgeon because walking with a torn ACL can cause further damage to your knee.
If your tear is partial, you avoid pivoting and cutting, and/or you commit to a physical therapy routine, you may regain enough stability and strength to walk comfortably. However, high impact activities will be difficult without surgical repair.
Can a torn ACL heal itself?
No. A torn ACL has a limited blood supply which is essential for healing. It also does not have the ability reattach itself. However, in some cases, a tear can be managed non-operatively through activity modification and physical rehabilitation. The non-surgical recovery success rate depends on the severity of the tear and the patient’s activity level. Consult with an orthopaedic surgeon to weigh the pros and cons of a non-surgical ACL recovery.
How do you tear your ACL?
ACL tears are caused by abrupt shifting, pivoting, twisting, or hyperextension in the knee (often due to direct contact).
How do you know if you tore your ACL?
Many patients feel a buckling sensation, hear a pop, or experience rapid swelling and instability in the knee. Some describe a painful experience while others walk away from the injury. An orthopaedic surgeon can provide an official diagnosis with a physical exam and an x-ray or an MRI.
Who can diagnose an ACL tear?
An ACL diagnosis and surgical repair falls within the medical purview of an orthopaedic surgeon. Sports medicine physicians and physical therapists often work with athletes and can also provide initial assessments and referrals for an official diagnosis and surgical treatment.
Does a partially torn ACL require surgery?
A partially torn ACL does not always require surgery. It is best to weigh your options with an orthopaedic surgeon. You can expect to weigh the following factors: severity of the tear, activity level, symptoms, rehabilitation potential, age, and overall health.