ACL Injuries And The Signs You Need A Sports Medicine Doctor
Posted on: 23 December 2020
For anyone who plays sports, an ACL injury is one of the scariest possible injuries you could suffer. In fact, ACL injuries can often be career-ending for professional sports players. The ACL is a ligament that holds your shin, thigh, and knee in proper alignment. An ACL injury can leave your knee weak, swollen, and unable to sustain any weight. Here's a look at what you need to know about seeking treatment for your ACL injury.
What Are The Signs Of An ACL Injury?
It's important that you know how to recognize an ACL injury so that you know when you need to see a sports medicine specialist. At the moment of the injury, you may hear a pop coming from the affected knee. This noise is generated from the ligament itself when it sustains damage.
In most cases, you'll experience a significant amount of pain in your knee, and you won't be able to stand on it. Shortly after the injury, you'll notice significant inflammation and swelling in the knee, too. You'll find that you can't move the knee the way that you should because the swelling from the injury and the tendon damage will affect your range of motion.
What Kind Of Injuries Might Your ACL Sustain?
You'll find that there are two different types of ACL injuries that you might sustain. A sprain occurs when you twist, stretch, or move incorrectly and stretch your ACL beyond its limits. These injuries typically heal fairly quickly with the proper rest and medical treatment.
Aside from these minor ACL injuries, you may also suffer an ACL tear. These are more severe injuries and typically require surgery to reattach the tendon and repair the tear. You'll need to work with a sports medicine provider to ensure that you get the proper diagnosis and treatment for an ACL tear.
How Is An ACL Injury Diagnosed?
When you visit a sports medicine doctor, he or she will start with a basic physical examination of your knee, including feeling the position of your knee and the ligaments around it. If there's any question about the injury being an ACL injury, or if your doctor wants to isolate whether it's a tear or a sprain, you may also be referred for x-rays, MRI scans, or other diagnostic testing.
If you have any reason to suspect that you've sustained an ACL injury, or you're concerned about the condition of your knee, reach out to a sports medicine doctor today for more help or check out websites like https://www.towncenterorthopaedics.com/ to learn more.
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