Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Research Paper

An anterior cruciate ligament injury also referred as an ACL injury “caused by a sudden deceleration or landing maneuver with the leg in a vulnerable position” tearing the anterior cruciate ligament. There are three major bones that meet to form your knee joint known as the femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone), and kneecap (patella). These bones are then connected to each other by ligaments that act as strong ropes in order to hold the bones together and stabilize the knee. One of these ligaments is the anterior cruciate that is located in the middle of the knee in the form of a “X” in front of the posterior cruciate ligament in the back. The role of the anterior cruciate is to prevent the kneecap from sliding in front of the thighbone,
to provide a range of motion, and stability in the knee. An ACL injury can be caused by rapid change of direction, sudden stopping, incorrect landing, and collision.
When there is an injury to a ligament it is classified as a sprain, and has a severity scale. The first degree of an ACL injury is mildly damaged, where the cruciate ligament has been slightly stretched but the knee joint is still stabilized. The second degree is a partial tear loosening the ligament. Then the third degree is a complete tear in the ligament, and the knee is unstable and is most common among athletes. Several studies have proven that female athletes have a higher risk of ACL injuries than their male counterparts. According to Dr. Barry Boden females are two to eight times more likely to injure this ligament. It is proposed that the difference is due to the female’s physical strength compared to males, their Q angle is wider (lower leg alignment), and estrogen may increase an ACL
tear. You may be able to identify an ACL injury if there is a popping like noise where you may feel your knee give out or buckle.
Other symptoms of an anterior cruciate ligament is pain while walking, knee begins to swell within twenty four hours of injury, and loss of full range of motion. The treatment for this injury varies upon the patient’s lifestyle. An adult not as physically active may be able to continue their lifestyle without surgery. Therefore, nonsurgical treatment would be an effective option where the patient may be recommended by the doctor to wear a brace in order to protect the knee from instability along with crutches to keep the weight of the injured leg. Through this the swelling will decrease, and physical therapy will start, providing exercises to restore strength and function to the knee. However, athletes involved in sports will most likely require surgery in order for a safe return. These individuals would go through a surgical treatment where the ligament is reconstructed. The surgery would be done with an arthroscope through small incisions where the doctor will then replace the torn anterior cruciate ligament with a tissue graft for the new ligament to grow on to. It may take six months or more for the athlete to return to sports after surgery due to the re growth of the
ligament. It is not easy to pin point ways how athletes can modify their movements in order to prevent ACL injuries. However, one way is to speak with an athletic trainer, physical therapist, or sports medicine specialist where they can identify and target weak muscle areas and find ways to recover strength, thus helping to prevent injury. Current studies also indicate that specific types of training, such as jumping routines and learning to pivot correctly can help athletes prevent ACL injuries. In my opinion ACL injuries can be a psychological stressor for athletes. ACL injuries can have long and short term effects where the athlete will be out for half or whole season, cause pain, and loss of range or motion which may be crucial for a successful season. I chose to research this topic to get a better understanding of the common injury and never have to experience the psychological effects of it as an athlete. In addition, I see and hear way too many girls around campus with this common injury that it inspired to look it up. Through the research that I found, I learned where the anterior cruciate ligament is located, how it can get torn, and treatment and prevention techniques.