ORTHOPEDICS/HIP & KNEE/ACL DAMAGE
Suffering from a sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reflects a severe pain and debilitating damage.
An ACL tear may prevent total contributing in sports activities, as it may necessitate surgery to help ACL restoration.
Following an ACL damage, a physical therapist is recommended to assist restoration of: a knee motion range (ROM) strengthening, decreasing knee pain, and eliminating knee inflammation.
In case a surgery is needed, the physical therapist can help guiding through the ACL protocol, as he or she may help regaining normal activities such as walking, running with some athletic activity speedily and securely.
ACL Rehab schedule/ Modules
An ACL rehab schedule will focus on many modules to help regaining normal mobility. These include, but are not restricted to:
ROM restoring, quadriceps strength improving, cramps, calves, gluteal muscles, knee lessening pain and inflammation, gait training, balance training, Plyometrics training and getting back to function and normal athletics
One important module of being assisted by physical therapist after an ACL damage or surgery would be to develop strategies to help avoiding future ACL tears.
Jump and Land Appropriately
Another way to help avoiding ACL would be to know how to jump and land appropriately.
Unappropriated jumping and landing put the knees under extreme stress and tension, which may finally damage the ACL in the knee.
Knowing to jump and land correctly needs to know first the consequences of a wrong jumping or landing.
When jumping the knees come together and extreme stress and tension are placed on the knee which may cause a slightly rotation to the shinbone. This rotation and tension through the knee joint may place the ACL under significant stress, and this stress may lead to an ACL twisting or complete tear.
Here is some steps to know about jumping and landing:
- Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart.
- Place a small line across the floor in front of your toes, and place a mirror in front of you.
- Hop with both feet over the line while watching in the mirror.
- Be sure your knees do not come together when you are jumping or landing.
- Hop backward over the line, keeping your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees apart when jumping and landing.
Reminder: not all damages can be avoided. Knowing to jump and land properly correctly may minimize the knee suffering risks like an ACL twisting.