As an osteopath, I see a lot of knee injuries, and a torn ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is one of the most common and serious. It can be a real setback, but understanding the injury and your options is the first step to getting back on your feet.
What’s the ACL’s Job?
The ACL is a tough ligament deep inside your knee. Its main job is to keep your shin bone from sliding too far forward and to prevent your knee from twisting too much. Think of it like a tight rope for your knee joint. When you suddenly stop, change direction, or land awkwardly from a jump, you can overstress this ligament. That’s when you hear that dreaded “pop” and feel instant pain and swelling. These are classic signs of an ACL tear, and it’s why athletes in sports like soccer, football and basketball are so prone to this injury.
Diagnosing the Problem
If you come to see me with a suspected ACL injury, I’ll start by checking your knee’s stability. I’ll do a few special tests to check the integrity of the ACL and the laxity in your knee. While your history and a thorough assessment can tell me a lot, an MRI scan is the gold standard for a definitive diagnosis. It gives us a clear picture of the ligament and any other damage that may be present inside your knee.
Your Treatment Options
Once we know for sure it’s an ACL tear, we’ll talk about treatment. There are two main paths, and the right one for you depends on your symptoms, lifestyle, and what you want to get back to doing.
- Non-Surgical (Conservative) Treatment: This approach is usually for people who don’t need to return to high-impact sports. We focus on getting your knee stable through rehab. That means a lot of exercise therapy to strengthen the muscles around your knee, especially your hamstrings and quads. The idea is to use muscle power to make up for the lack of a working ACL.
- Surgical Reconstruction: This is the go-to option for athletes and active people who want to return to sports. The surgeon replaces the torn ligament with a new one, called a graft. This graft is often taken from your own body (like your hamstring tendon). After surgery, an intensive rehabilitation program is essential. This is a big commitment – it can take 9-12 months of hard work to fully recover.
How Osteopathy Can Help
No matter which path you choose, osteopathy can be a huge help. My role is to look at the big picture. I’ll work on improving the movement of your body to make sure you’re not putting extra strain on your recovering knee. Pre-surgery rehab is great for getting your knee in the best possible shape for a great outcome, and post-surgery, I’ll guide you through each stage of rehab with a tailored exercise program and continuous testing to ensure you are moving along effectively and safely.
An ACL injury is tough, but it’s not the end of the road. By making an informed decision and committing to your rehab, you can get back to doing the things you love.
Dr Daniel Raab
Osteopath
E: Daniel.Raab@staytuned.com.au
