Even if you’re not a fan of the sport, you have to admit that soccer players are pretty tough and brave competitors! Injuries (especially those to the leg) are commonplace on the pitch, and one of the most common on-field injuries is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Continue reading to learn all about ACL tears and how rehabilitation in Brampton can literally help you get back up on your feet.
What is the ACL, and why does it tear?
The ACL is one of the most crucial ligaments in your body. It’s one of four ligaments in your knee, and it connects the upper leg to the lower leg. Unfortunately, injuries to this crucial ligament are extremely common:
- Hyperextension: If you’ve ever accidentally straightened your knee too far when walking or running, you know that it’s an uncomfortable feeling. But it’s much worse when your knee completely gives out! Several injuries are the result of hyperextension, but ACL tears are probably the worst.
- Direct blows: As mentioned above, soccer isn’t for the faint of heart. If a player slide tackles you and hits your knee, you’re in for a world of hurt. Even though the opposing player could wind up getting kicked out of the game with a red card, you might have to be carried off the field with an ACL tear.
- Stress to the outside of the knee: Kicking the ball with the side of your foot is a great way to make a sneaky pass or try for a quick goal. However, that can put a lot of undue stress on your knee if your cleat gets stuck during the process. Too much stress from that at once is an easy way to tear your ACL and ruin your season.
- Stress from an outside rotation of the knee: Quick lateral cuts in soccer are a vital part of the game. If you aren’t agile, you aren’t going to be very good. But a quick cut in the opposite direction puts a lot of stress on your knee and can result in a painful tear.
- Unhappy triad: This one is the worst of the worst. Also known as a blown knee and a variety of other names, the so-called “unhappy triad” is a combination of an outside force, bend in the knee and outside rotation while the foot is planted. The unhappy triad results in an injured ACL, medial collateral ligament (MCL) and medial meniscus.
What happens after a tear?
Once an ACL tear has been diagnosed, many people opt to have the ligament surgically repaired. The type of surgery done depends on where the tear is along the ligament and how bad the tear is. One thing is certain, though—if you don’t have rehab after your surgery, you’ll never properly heal. ACL tear rehabilitation in Brampton includes working your legs with light weights. Rehab can take a while, but it’s crucial if you want to get back on the field after the injury.
If you’ve experienced a recent ACL injury or any other sports injury, give Paramount Physiotherapy & Sports Injuries Clinic a call. Our experts have years of experience rehabbing all sorts of injuries!