ACL Injury

Overview: ACL injury is a tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. It often occurs in sports like soccer, basketball, and football, which all involve sudden stops or changes in direction.

Symptoms

-A loud pop or a popping sensation in the knee

-Unbearable pain

-Swelling

-Loss of range of motion

Causes

-Stopping or changing direction suddenly

-Pivoting with your foot firmly planted

-Landing on an uneven surface

-Colliding in the knee

Risk factors

-Poor lower body and core strength

-Poor technique (e.g. moving the knees inward during a squat)

-Unfitting footwear

-Playing on artificial turf (soccer & football)

Prevention

-Strengthen the core, including the hips, pelvis, and lower abdomen

-Strengthen your hamstrings to avoid muscular imbalance

-Train with proper technique and knee position when jumping, pivoting, and cutting

-Knee brace cannot prevent ACL injury

*If you suspect any symptoms of an ACL injury, you should see a doctor immediately. Surgery if often required if you want to continue in your sport.