Ways to Repair Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears
The anterior cruciate ligament isa major ligament in the knee. It is responsible for providing stability to your knee joint and helps prevent excessive joint movement. ACL tear is common in athletes. You are more likely to tear your ACL if you suddenly stop, change direction quickly, land a jump incorrectly, stop abruptly while running or overextend your knee. ACL tearcan cause instability in your knee and lead to pain and difficulty with everyday activities. ACL tears are treatable depending on the extent of the damage.Pearland ACL repairs focus on reducing pain and restoring your knees’ range of motion and function. There are many ways to repair ACL tears, including:
Non-surgical treatments
Non-surgical treatments help reduce pain and improve function. Your doctor may recommend these treatments if you have a mild to moderate ACL tear and are not participating in high-demand sports or activities that stress your knee. There are various non-surgical treatments for ACL tears, including:
Physical therapy
Physical therapy can help improve your knee’s range of motion and mobility and strengthen muscles around your knee. It may include stretching, strengthening, balance, and coordination exercises.
Assistive devices
Assistive devices like braces and crutches can help repair ACL tears. Your doctor may recommend a knee brace to help stabilize your knee, reduce the stress on the ACL and minimize the risk of further injury. The assistive device your physical therapist recommends depends on your unique needs.
Medications
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce pain and inflammation. Ibuprofen and naproxen are the most commonly used NSAIDs.
Injections
Corticosteroid injections consist of steroids and a numbing agent. They help reduce pain and inflammation in the affected knee.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
Platelet-rich plasma can help reduce inflammation and promote healing. This treatment involves your doctor taking your blood sample and centrifuging it to separate platelets from other blood components. The doctor injects the extracted platelets into the affected knee to reduce pain and inflammation and improve function.
Surgery
Doctors mostly use surgery if you have a severe ACL tear or other treatment options that do not improve your symptoms. Surgery will also depend on your age and level of activity. The ACL surgical procedure typically involves your surgeon making an incision in your knee to access the damaged ligament. The specialist then removes the damaged ligament and replaces it with a new one, which the provider may take from your body or a donor. The surgeon secures the new ligament to the bone using screws or other special devices.
After the surgery, your specialist will likely recommend you undergo physical therapy to help restore strength and range of motion to your knee. Full recovery can take several months, and it is essential you follow your rehabilitation plan and avoid activities that could put too much strain on the repaired ligament.
ACL tear can cause instability in your knee, cause pain and prevent you from doing daily activities. Your doctor can repair an ACL tear through medications, assistive devices, injections, physical therapy, and surgery. Schedule an appointment at Crom Rehabilitation for ACL repair to restore your knee function.
