Acl Tears
ACL tears have plagued athletes for many years and until recently, almost always led to the demise of the athlete's career. With new improvements in the surgery and the rehabilitation program, athletes only experience a bump in their athletic career instead of a downfall - over 90% of athletes who have ACL surgery, return to normal sports participation within six months (3). In some cases, athletes have returned to sport within three months. (2) The knee joint is comprised of the femur, tibia, and patella. These bones are controlled by a variety of muscles and ligaments that also act as a defense against damage. The two ligaments that stabilize the knee from side-to-side are the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are located in the center of the knee joint and stabilize the knee from front-to-back. These ligaments allocate the weight equally throughout the knee to limit the deterioration on the knee cartilage on the inside, or articular cartilage. Two other defense mechanisms include the medial and lateral meniscus, which are basically shock absorbers (1). Like we learned in class, the two muscles that move the knee are the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. When the quad muscles contract, the knee extends forward. Conversely, when the hamstring contracts, it flexes back. I have personally witnessed numerous friends go through the lengthy rehabilitation process required following ACL surgery. From my eye witness accounts, I have learned that the actual injury is an immense amount of pain accompanied with a pop, followed by little or no pain. Short term symptoms included swelling, slight pain, and the inability to make lateral movements. All were able to walk on the injured leg. Those who decided to get immediate surgery began the rehab process before the surgery in an attempt to strengthen their quads. After the surgery, the remaining rehab process began. Ice and slight leg...
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