ACL Tear

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The ACL works like a strong band that connects your thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and keeps your knee from bending or twisting too far, especially in the anterior direction. When too much force pushes the knee beyond its normal range, the ACL can tear. 

There are different grades of ACL tears: 

Grade 1: ACL is stretched enough to damage, but is still intact and can hold the leg bones together

Grade 2: The injury stretched the ACL enough for it to partially tear or loosen 

Grade 3: The ACL is no longer in one piece (full tear)

• Hearing or feeling a pop in your knee at the time of injury
• Swelling
• Pain (especially when bearing weight)
• Weakness/knee giving out when walking 
• Loss of range of motion of the knee

See a doctor immediately after a traumatic knee injury that might cause an ACL tear, especially if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. 

• Don't "play through the pain." Stop physical activity immediately once your knee begins to have symptoms 
• When you jump, land, or change directions, keep your knees directly over your feet 
• Avoid letting your knees collapse inward
• Work on hip and thigh strengthening exercises 
• Stretch before and after games and practice
• Complete the following exercise to warm up:
  • Hip abductors
  • Squats (single legged and double legged)
  • Walking lunges
  • Split jumps
  • Standing knee tuck

• RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
• Brace
• Crutches
• A completely torn ACL cannot heal on its own and will require surgery in order to return to sports and physical activity

• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16576-acl-tear 
• https://www.hss.edu/health-library/conditions-and-treatments/acl-injury-prevention-stay-off-sidelines 
• https://orthopedicnj.com/news/5-acl-injury-prevention-exercises