Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Main Causes And Treatments
An anterior cruciate ligament injury is a sprain or tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. It is a structure that is part of the knee joint. In fact, it is one of the most frequent injuries in athletes.
For example, it is very common in soccer players or basketball players. The problem is not only in its frequency, but in that the injury of the anterior cruciate ligament can be difficult to treat.
Even, in some cases it requires surgery. Therefore, in this article we explain everything you need to know about it, how it occurs and what therapeutic options exist.
What is an anterior cruciate ligament injury?
Before explaining the anterior cruciate ligament injury, it is essential to know what it is. It is a ligament that runs diagonally across the center of the knee. That is, it is located within the joint. Join the femur with the tibia.
Its name derives from the fact that it intersects, forming an X, with the so-called posterior cruciate ligament . As an article published in Ortho Info explains , both are responsible for controlling the movement of the knee backwards and forwards.
An anterior cruciate ligament injury involves the ligament being sprained or torn. It usually takes place during certain sports practices that demand a lot of impact for this joint. For example, skiing or soccer.
What are the associated symptoms?
The anterior cruciate ligament injury appears abruptly. Many people report that when it occurs, they feel or feel a loud clicking sound in the knee. In addition, it is very painful and it is usual that it is almost impossible to continue with the movement or activity.
The knee often becomes unstable, so even walking can be difficult. Also, the leg’s range of motion is lost. It is also common for a noticeable swelling to appear in the joint.
Causes of anterior cruciate ligament injury
As we just noted, anterior cruciate ligament injury tends to occur during sports activities. What happens is that the structure is stretched beyond what is adequate and this produces a partial or total tear of its tissue.
It happens when you try to turn with your foot resting on the ground or when you fall after a jump with poor leg placement. It is also common when, while running, you change direction abruptly and slow down.
Another common cause is trauma. For example, this is one of the main etiologies in contact sports, such as American football or rugby.
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