Sports Injuries
Although an injury involving the anterior cruciate ligament can have many causes, it is most often related to sports. ACL injuries are common, especially among athletes and those who keep a rigorous exercise routine. A tear to the anterior cruciate ligament, or the ACL, is very painful, but can be corrected with surgery. Depending on the extent of the damage, many people report the feeling of their knee giving out from under them, which is often directly related to this specific kind of injury. It affects the knees the most, which takes considerable impact during physical activity of any kind. This can be highly inconvenient for athletes and active individuals, which is why so many choose surgery as a form of treatment for this injury.
ACL injuries are also not caused by outside influence. For example, this ligament often tears when an athlete lands from a jump, rather than interaction with another player. The knee will give out underneath them after the ligament is torn, which is why so often this injury is related to sports. A statistic also shows that female athletes, in comparison to male athletes, are more likely to sustain this kind of injury. Due to the male physiology, and it’s increased muscle mass, they tend not to suffer the injury as often as female competitive athletes.
A stress test on the anterior cruciate ligament can be performed during a medical examination to determine if the injury is present. If you have sustained a knee injury, often you will see swelling as a result. At the moment the injury is sustained, many people say that they hear a pop before the knee gives out. A doctor will check for instability in the knee to determine whether or not it is in fact an ACL injury.
This kind of injury can also be a work related accident, a fall, or the result of a car accident. Any heavy stress on the knee can cause an ACL injury, whether it be excessive weight or impact. Ligament and joint injuries are almost always the result of sports. And although the tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament can have many causes, eighty percent of cases are caused by competitive sports injuries. Be sure to consult a doctor if you have any swelling or instability in the knee, as it could be the an ACL injury. Only a medical professional can diagnose, and treat, an injury or condition.
