The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the femur to the tibia at the center of the knee. It is responsible for limiting rotation and forward motion of the tibia. An estimated 80,000-100,000 ACL tears occur annually in the general population. ACL surgery is both painful and costly. It behooves both the professional and recreational athlete to particpate in a well designed injury prevention program.
The Sound of One Knee
Popping
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects the femur to
the tibia at the center of the knee. It is responsible for limiting rotation
and forward motion of the tibia. An estimated 80,000-100,000 ACL tears occur
annually in the general population. They
are most common in:
Skiing
Football
Soccer
Gymnastics
Hockey
Basketball
Rugby
Wrestling
Lacrosse
Volley
Ball
For the most part, torn ACLs are considered “non contact”
injuries. They usually occur during:
Planting and Cutting Moves
Straight Leg Landing from Jumps
Pivoting with Hyperextension
Upon injuring their ACL, the athlete will usually hear a
loud popping noise. Seeking immediate medical care is crucial!
ACL deficient knees or reconstructed ACLs have 105 times greater chance of
developing osteoarthritis. Even with the best Health Insurance plan, the
surgery is costly. While the post operative prognosis is usually positive, you
are probably looking at a six month recovery period, with the first month being
characterized by a good deal of physical pain and depression. Given the
financial, physical and emotional stress that ACL injury can put on an athlete,
prevention is crucial. How rigorous should your prevention plan be? That
depends upon your susceptibility.