There are four vital ligaments in the knee joint. One of those important ligaments is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL, which prevents the tibia from sliding in front of the femur and maintains the rotational stability of the knee.

One of the most common injuries faced by athletes is ACL tear (especially in sports like football, basketball, skiing, gymnastics and track and field events) due to constant running, jumping and landing. Females have up to a ten times higher tendency to experience ACL than males in the same circumstances. ACL tears can range from mild (partial rupture of ACL) to severe (complete ACL rupture).

ACL or Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a strong ligament that connects the femur to the tibia, i.e. thigh bone to shin bone, and when this ligament is ruptured, it results in an ACL tear. Around 75% of cases of ACL tear are with either minimal or no contact during the injury. Still, surgery is often the only solution because the ACL can’t grow by itself once torn and ignoring it can develop additional knee injuries. ACL arthroscopic surgery cost in India can be very high. You may consider Dr Aditya Sai for the best treatment at affordable prices.

The tissues connecting two bones are called ligaments. There are two ligaments in the middle of your knee, one of which is the ACL. It connects the thigh bone or femur to the shin bone or tibia and helps the knee withstanding rotational forces.

ACL tear is common in sports because of the sudden movements which can collapse the knee. There can be various causes of an ACL tear, like,

• Not landing properly after a jump.
• Any sudden movements like running, jumping or changing directions while running at high speeds also called cutting.
• A direct collision with the knee, especially from a tackle.
• There is not enough knee protection in a car, and in case of a head-on collision, the knee can suffer severe damage, including ACL tear.
• The ACL can get weaker with age, like any other part of the body.

Any of these causes can result in a mild to a severe ACL tear. So it is advised to visit a doctor if you encounter an injury in the knee.

Risk Factors:

Although anyone can suffer an ACL tear or any other ACL injury, certain people are more at risk than others.

• Female athletes and other women are up to ten times more at risk than their male counterparts. It may be because of the strength and conditioning of the muscles, anatomy or hormonal differences.
• Athletes from certain sports are more likely to endure ACL tears, including football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and skiing.
• Using faulty sporting and protective equipment.
• The ACL can get weaker with age. So people of ages around 40 are more prone to ACL injuries.

These risk factors need not affect you because you fall into one of the risks mentioned above. So it is better to talk to a doctor or visit Dr Aditya Sai at Shoulder And Knee Clinic.

People who have suffered ACL tears before know when they have had an injury. But here are a few symptoms:

• Pain: Depending upon the extent of the tear, you may feel mild to excruciating pain in the knee. Your knee might be sore for a few days if the ligament has not torn apart. Due to this, you may find it difficult to put pressure on the affected leg.
• Swelling: During the first few hours, there may be swelling around the knee area. But you can eradicate this swelling by applying ice or even raising the leg around the body level.
• Trouble walking: People find it difficult to put pressure on the affected leg because of the pain. That’s why it is tough to walk correctly.
• Restricted motion: The torn ligament and the resulting pain can lead to restricted movement.

That’s why the leading orthopaedics, including Dr Aditya Sai (widely recommended for having the best ACL reconstruction surgery in India), advise consulting a specialist as soon as you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above.