ACL injuries
"Doc, I fell and twisted my knee. I heard a pop. It hurt briefly. When I stood up, the knee felt as if it was not underneath me, and the knee gave way. It swelled up by the next day and ever since feels as though it would pop out when I twist or even cross the street quickly." In almost all cases the above complaints occur due to an injury to the ACL (Anterior Crucial Ligament) of the knee. The ACL is a very important ligament in the knee that controls the pivoting motion of the knee. This joint guides the femur and tibia through a regular range of motion. It is the most common and serious of injury sustained to the knee (Duffy, f9). How this injury happens, who is most susceptible, and how it is treated are a few questions athletes are becoming heavily concerned with. ACL injuries account for over sixty percent of all knee injuries and those numbers are growing every year (Lamb 145). The major cause of injury to the ACL is sports related. The types of sports, which have been associated with ACL tears, are numerous. Those sports requiring the foot to be planted and the body to change direction rapidly (such as basketball) carry a high incidence of injury. Football, of course, is frequently th
e source of an ACL tear. Football combines the activity of planting the foot and rapidly changing direction plus the threat of bodily contact. Treatment of ACL injuries varies greatly from case to case. Initial treatment for ACL injury includes crutches and rest until the swelling resolves. The knee joint may need to have blood removed from the joint. "Once, the initial pain and swelling begins to resolve physical therapy will probably be initiated to regain as much of the normal range of motion as possible" (http//: sportssci.org). One of the problems that tearing the ACL causes, is that the nerve endings in the ligament are torn as well. These nerves are there to give the brain information about where the body is in 3D space. A good physical therapy program will help re-train these nerves as they repair themselves, and will strengthen certain muscles that will take over some of the functions of stabilizing the knee joint from the loss of the ACL. After surgery, a physical therapist will be contacted to begin your rehabilitation program. You will probably be involved in some type of rehabilitation for six months after surgery to ensure the best result from you ACL reconstruction. The first six weeks following surgery expect to see the physical therapist about three times a week. Following the initial period, you may be placed on a home program and monitored by the therapist. To help replace the stability of the knee due to the loss of the ACL, an ACL brace may be suggested. These braces are fairly effective at preventing the knee from giving way during strenuous activity. "A certified orthotist [SIC], a physical therapist, or a physician must fit most of these braces" (http//: sportssci.org). These are not the types you can buy at the drugstore. Most orthopedists will recommend wearing a brace for at least one year after a reconstruction, so even if you decide to have surgery, a brace is a good inve
Some common words found in the essay are:
ACL ACL, Personal Interview, Crucial Ligament, Treatment ACL, Injuries Doc, knee joint, acl injuries, physical therapist, female athletes, http// sportssciorg, knee injuries, acl surgery, loss acl, rehabilitation program, physical therapy,
Approximate Word count = 1297
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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