ACL injury is one of the most common knee injuries among athletes involved in various sports like football, basketball, rugby, tennis, volleyball, hockey and soccer among others. The injury can be contact or non-contact and thus, anyone involved in sports can be a victim. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury can occur in several ways that include stopping suddenly, landing from a jump incorrectly, changing direction rapidly, and landing from a jump incorrectly or through direct contact. Women athletes have a higher risk of ACL injury than male athletes largely due to their differences in muscular strength, physical conditioning, and neuromuscular control.
ACL injuries are usually known to curtail many promising careers, especially among young and older athletes. To continue playing a high demanding sport after suffering an ACL injury, an athlete must undergo an ACL reconstruction surgery. However, if you do not take part in a multi-directional sport and your knee is stable, you may not need ACL surgery. Before deciding whether an athlete should undergo reconstruction surgery, the doctor will consider several factors that include the age, knee instability, sport or activity and the future plans. Undergoing a nonsurgical treatment can restore the knee to close to its pre-injury state but with a bigger chance of a secondary injury as a result of the repetitive instability.
ACL reconstruction surgery is recommended if the knee is giving way or feeling unstable during daily activities, the meniscus is torn, other ligaments are also injured, knee pain and inability to continue playing sports. It is also important to that the ability to return to full activity after undergoing ACL reconstruction in Sydney will depend on how well you follow the rehabilitation program, which can be anything from 4 to 6 months. Before undergoing the surgery, it is necessary to tell your doctor the drugs, herbs, and supplements that you are taking among other health conditions.
The aim of ACL reconstruction surgery is to restore stability, maintain a full range of motion and maintain proper isometric ligament function. There are basically two ACL reconstruction choices that include patellar tendon autograft and hamstring tendon autograft. The surgical choice is a matter of doctor’s preference but the middle third of the patellar tendon together with the bone plug from the kneecap and the shin are used in the patellar tendon autograft. In the hamstring tendon autograft, the surgeon will use the semitendinosus hamstring tendon on the inner side of the knee to create a tendon graft.
Conclusion
Irrespective of the reconstruction technique used, physical therapy plays an important in role in ensuring the ACL reconstruction in Sydney is successful. Dedication to rigorous physical therapy will determine how quickly an athlete regains full range of motion.