Do I Have ACL Injury?

Have you receive a direct blow to your knee?

Have you land awkwardly from a jump, or had sudden changes of directions during sports?

Have you heard a loud "pop" or do you have a "popping" sensation in the knee?

Do you have severe pain in your knee that enables you to continue with your activity?

Do you have a swelling in your knee that appears within 24 hour of an injury?

Do you have difficulty straightening your knee due to swelling?

Do you have a limited range of motion in the knee joint?

Do you have a feeling of instability or "giving way" with weight bearing?

Do you have tenderness along the joint line?

Do you feel discomfort while walking?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have an ACL injury. The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is the large ligament in your knee. A ligament is a tough band of tissue that connects bones to each other. The ACL is a ligament located in the middle of the knee. It connects your thighbone to your shinbone, and is very important for the stability of the knee joint. An ACL injury is a common sports injury and usually occurs during activities that put stress on the knees. Sudden deceleration and change of direction, abrupt stop or awkward landing from a jump can cause an ACL injury.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have an ACL injury. An ACL injury is an injury to one of the two ligaments that run diagonally in the middle of your knee. ACL or anterior cruciate ligament is placed in front of your knee and plays a role in controlling the movement of the knee back and forth. The ACL can be strained or torn. An ACL injury is graded on a severity scale of 1 to 3. Grade 1 refers to a mildly damaged ligament, Grade 2 represents a partial tear of a ligament, and Grade 3 indicates a complete tear of a ligament.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have an ACL injury. An ACL injury refers to a strain or tear of a major ligament found in the middle of your knee. It is a common injury in people who participate in high demanding sports such as basketball, football and soccer. A Diagnosis is based on your medical history, physical examination and imagining tests, including X-rays and MRI. Treatment will depend on your age and activity level. A young athlete will usually need surgery to return safely to their sports activities. Non-surgical treatment may be effective in less active elderly people.