Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a ligament that helps to hold the bones of the knee together and contributes to the stability of the knee.  An ACL injury occurs when that ligament is stretched or torn.  It typically happens when an athlete tries to change direction quickly while his foot is planted firmly on the ground.  An ACL injury will result in pain and swelling in the knee.  There may also be a feeling of instability with walking.  A mild sprain can be rehabilitated without surgery.  However, a severe sprain or a complete tear of the ACL will likely require surgery to recover. 

How our physiotherapists can help

Our physiotherapists will perform a complete examination of your knee to determine the extent of your ACL injury.  If it appears that the injury is mild, the focus will be to reduce pain and swelling in the knee while working to improve your range of motion.  This is followed by proper strengthening and proprioception exercises to improve the stability of your knee and prevent future knee injuries. 

If surgery is needed for your recovery, our pre-operative rehabilitation plan will focus on making your knee as strong as possible beforehand to optimize recovery time after the surgery.  Immediately after surgery, the first goal is to reduce pain and inflammation in the knee.  This is followed by appropriate range of motion and strengthening exercises to maximize recovery of your knee.  Finally, specific balance and proprioception exercises will be provided to allow you to return to sports  with confidence.  Book an appointment today and find out how we can get you back to doing the things that you love, as soon as possible!